Police identify a suspect who struck and killed a 60-year-old man in North Philly
The vehicle is believed to be a 2001 to 2004 blue GMC Yukon or Denali.
Police are seeking the driver who struck and killed a 60-year-old man in North Philadelphia late Wednesday night.
On Saturday evening, police identified the suspect as Edward Prince, 44, whose last-known address is on the 4800 block of North Fifth Street. Prince also goes by Jamil Smith, according to police.
Roberto Oquendo Velez was walking in a crosswalk on the 3300 block of North Second Street, near Ontario, about 11:10 p.m. when he was hit by a vehicle, believed to be a 2001 to 2004 blue GMC Yukon or Denali, police said. Velez, who was deaf and nonverbal, was pronounced dead by medics at the scene, said Police Capt. Mark Overwise of the Accident Investigation District.
“He was struck so hard that his shoes flew right off there,” Overwise said during a virtual news conference Thursday afternoon. It appeared Velez was walking toward his home about a block away, he said.
As a result of the crash, the SUV has a broken right headlight and other possible fender damage, he said.
Overwise said it was unclear if Velez was dragged down the street or if his body was thrown by the vehicle, but the victim was found “a good distance down the street.” It also was not clear if the driver stopped and got out of the vehicle, said Overwise. The driver was “moving fast” and fled south on Second Street, he said.
Velez was the fifth fatal hit-and-run victim this year, Overwise said. In 2019, there were nine fatal hit-and-run accidents. That number jumped to 28 last year, he said.
Anyone with information about the driver or vehicle is asked to call the Police Accident Investigation District at 215-685-3180.