PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man and a pregnant woman were injured when they were hit by a car while picketing outside a sanitation center in the Port Richmond section of North Philadelphia. Investigators said the driver was drunk.
Around 11:30 p.m. Thursday, police said the driver of a Chevy Tahoe hopped the curb in front of the Sanitation Convenience Center on Delaware Avenue, hitting two protesters who were sitting in chairs on the picket line as part of the AFSCME District Council 33 strike.
The driver, identified as 41-year-old Damon Robinson, fled the scene, but he was arrested within two minutes of the crash on Castor Avenue. Responding officers found open containers of alcohol inside the car.
“Not only was he arrested for the hit-and-run of this accident but also for suspicion of driving under the influence,” said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small.
A male passenger was also arrested.
The 30-year-old pregnant woman who was hit was treated for her injuries and released from the hospital. The 36-year-old man is in extremely critical condition.
Investigators are looking into whether or not the crash was a drunken mistake, or if the driver went after the victims on purpose.
“For some reason, [he] jumped the curb and then was driving on the sidewalk where these two individuals were sitting in separate chairs in front of the sanitation yard where they worked,” said Small.
Robinson has since been charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault and related offenses.
Workers were picketing at one of the trash drop-off centers for residents to bring their garbage while the work stoppage is in effect. District Council 33 is the city’s largest blue-collar union, comprised of sanitation workers, 911 dispatchers and other city employees.
Greg Boulware, president of AFSCME District Council 33, said he and the union send “heartfelt prayers” to the victims and their families.
“Our members are constantly in the streets, facing these dangers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether we are on strike or not,” he said in a statement. “This incident points out the need for increased protections and support from the city of Philadelphia. We implore the Parker administration to take decisive action and help us come to a resolution that gets our people off of picket lines and back to work with livable wages. Enough is enough.”
There were several protesters on site when the victims were hit. They are being interviewed as witnesses.