Murder charged after car hits woman in S. Phila.

The man who police say intentionally drove over a 22-year-old pregnant mother of two in South Philadelphia twice with his car last weekend, killing her and injuring her friend, is prepared to surrender to authorities within a few days, his lawyer said last night.

The wanted man, Duane Crump, had been in court this morning for the case, according to his attorney, just hours before Homicide Capt. James Clark announced there was a manhunt for the 23-year-old from North Philadelphia.

The District Attorney's Office did not approve the murder charge until shortly before Clark's 2 p.m. news conference at Police Headquarters, department spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said via e-mail tonight.

Crump is accused of driving into Kamilah El-Amin and then backing over her while she was on the ground shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday in the city's Point Breeze section.

El-Amin, who lived with her mother in East Germantown, died Monday, leading police to seek the murder charge against Crump.

The same day, Crump, of the 1500 block of Judson Way, had been released after posting bail on charges of aggravated assault and driving under the influence of alcohol, Clark said during the news conference. He also told reporters that police were looking for Crump, who he said should be considered dangerous.

But defense lawyer Louis T. Savino Jr., who represents Crump in a pending drug case, said tonight that Crump would surrender to police in the next few days.

"He was in court with me this morning," Savino said, for arraignment on the aggravated-assault charge.

Savino said Crump had appeared before Municipal Judge Frank T. Brady at the Third and Fourth Police District building at 11th and Wharton Streets and left without knowing that El-Amin had died or that the police wanted to charge him with murder.

Vanore said that without the murder charge and arrest warrant, "grabbing him was not practical" in the courtroom.

When Crump was arrested Saturday, police were not fully aware of the circumstances of the crash, Clark said today. Bail was set at $50,000, according to court records, and someone posted 10 percent of that in cash Monday.

After El-Amin died, witnesses began to come forward to tell police the attack had been deliberate.

Police said witnesses had told them that El-Amin and three girlfriends had just left the 22d Street Cafe bar after it closed and were near 22d and Wharton Streets when Crump drove slowly near the intersection. He got into a "verbal confrontation" with the women, then drove into the group, knocking down El-Amir and then backing over her, Clark said.

"He intentionally and recklessly drove it at a high rate of speed" at El-Amin, Clark said.

He said Crump had tried to run off when police arrived, but they arrested him nearby.

El-Amin's friend was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and released.

Bonnie Rex, 60, El-Amin's grandmother, said that El-Amin had been pinned under the car and that a group of men had lifted it to remove her. El-Amin, who had numerous broken bones and internal injuries, was taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, then airlifted to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Upland because she had severe skin injuries from being dragged by the car, her grandmother said.

Doctors found out she was eight weeks pregnant, which was news to the family, Rex said. Her two sons will have birthdays next month. Naim H. Stroud will turn 3. Aayan A. George will turn 1.

"We still don't understand why," Rex said of the attack.