PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man who was trying to break into a cable work truck in Roxborough died after the driver sped off and ran him over, investigators said.
Around 1 a.m. Friday, police were called to Ridge and Leverington avenues and found a man on the ground with head injuries. He was unconscious; medics soon pronounced him dead.
Police said the man, armed with a large stick, ran up to the driver's side door. The 60-year-old driver inside feared he was being carjacked, so he sped off, police said. The man fell under the truck, sustaining fatal head injuries.
The car door handle was underneath the man when police found him, police said.
The man, identified as 52-year-old James Petrone, lived close by; family members showed up at the scene.
Police tracked the truck down about 10 blocks away. The driver returned to the scene and has been cooperating with investigators.
Officials are gathering surveillance footage from businesses in the area as they continue their investigation.
