PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police say a man, who is known to be a panhandler, was knocked out of his wheelchair Friday when a hit-and-run driver slammed into him after getting off the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Police say it was just after midnight at North Franklin and Vine Streets — a busy intersection close to Franklin Square Park — when a driver in a white Sedan hit the man who was sitting at the intersection. The impact sent the man flying about 50 feet out of the chair.
The man had head trauma when police and medics got to him. They took him to the hospital, where he’s in critical condition.
Small says a key witness, whose dash camera recorded the incident, came forward. Police say they watched the video, which shows the driver turn right onto 7th Street and keep going. They believe the car, which likely has front-end damage from the crash, had Jersey plates.
Police ask anyone with information on the incident to give them a call at 215-686-8477.