Mom and 3 Children Struck by Hit-and-Run Vehicle in Center City, Philadelphia Police Say – NBC10 Philadelphia

A mother is fighting for her life while her three children are recovering after all four of them were struck by a speeding hit-and-run vehicle in Center City on Tuesday, police said. 

Shortly after 10 p.m., a police officer spotted a dark gray Jeep speeding the wrong way on JFK Boulevard near 16th Street, investigators said. The officer followed the vehicle and notified other officers. 

Officers then spotted the Jeep with its headlights off speeding westbound on Arch Street from 8th Street, police said. They followed the vehicle as well. 

At the same time, a woman in her 40s or 50s and three children between the ages of 9 and 15 were walking on Broad and Arch streets, police said. As they were walking, the speeding Jeep struck all four of them, according to investigators. 

One witness told police the woman appeared to try and push the children out of the way as the Jeep came speeding towards them. 

Police said the impact knocked the woman and at least two of the children out of their shoes and one of the victims was launched 20 feet into the air. The driver of the Jeep continued driving after the crash, according to investigators. 

The woman was unconscious and bleeding, suffering severe head trauma. The three children suffered bumps and bruises but were conscious and alert, police said. Other witnesses said they heard the children referring to the woman as “mom,” leading police to believe she is the mother of the three kids. 

All four victims were taken to hospitals. The woman is in critical condition and undergoing surgery. The three children are stable. 

Debris from the hit-and-run vehicle as well as the shoes the woman and children were wearing were left at the scene of the crash. Police said they will look at cameras at the intersection of Broad and Arch streets as well as cameras from nearby businesses as they continue to search for the hit-and-run vehicle, which they described as a dark gray Jeep Liberty with front end damage. 

If you have any information on the whereabouts of the driver or hit-and-run vehicle, please call Philadelphia Police. 

This story is developing. Check back for updates.