Police want public’s help in two fatal hit-and-runs in Philadelphia
Philadelphia police issued an arrest warrant in a hit-and-run crash that killed Julia Mae Abraham on Wednesday and are seeking the public's help in finding a car that killed a pedestrian Saturday.
Police investigators on Saturday issued an arrest warrant for an 18-year-old believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run in West Philadelphia on Wednesday and also asked for the public’s help in finding a car that struck and killed a pedestrian early Saturday morning in Kensington.
Investigators said they’re seeking Jovan Lowe, of the city’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, on charges of murder, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, fleeing police, receiving stolen property, and leaving the scene of the crash.
According to police, the victim, 78-year-old Julia Mae Abraham, was sitting inside a silver Mercury Mariner — parked on Fairmount Avenue, near North 37th Street — on Wednesday at about 12:30 p.m. when Lowe, allegedly driving a stolen white Jeep Grand Cherokee, plowed into the driver’s side door. Police said Lowe also struck five other cars and then fled on foot. Paramedics rushed Abraham to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 1:46 p.m.
In the crash Saturday at Lehigh and Kensington Avenues, police said a black Dodge Charger struck a 50-year-old man around 12:15 a.m. while he was crossing Lehigh Avenue at the crosswalk. The vehicle fled the scene, leaving behind some car parts, police said.
The pedestrian was transported to Temple University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 1 a.m.
Police said the Charger was made some time from 2015 to 2020 and would have front-end damage.
Police asked anyone with information in either case to call the Accident Investigation Division at 215-685-3180 or 215-686-TIPS.