Hit-run victim’s last act may have been his best

In his life, Michael Romano made many choices that hurt his family, his friends and himself.

But in the moments before his death, he made a brave choice that saved his son's life.

Romano, 43, and his 5-year-old son, Angelo, were crossing in the middle of a block on Roosevelt Boulevard near Loney Street in Rhawnhurst around 10:52 p.m. Wednesday at the same time Roderick Williams, 22, was driving down the boulevard drunk, according to police.

Romano was able to push his son to safety before impact, but he didn't have time to get out of the way of Williams' 2000 Chevy Impala, police said.

Williams, who was already on probation for a DUI, fled the scene, according to police. An off-duty cop pulled Williams over about three blocks away.

Romano, of Sylvester Street near Longshore Avenue, was pronounced dead on scene at 11 p.m.

Romano, who crossed Roosevelt Boulevard in the middle of the street with his son, was struck just one week after PennDOT removed a mid-block crosswalk with no signals where he was killed.

Five such mid-block crosswalks were removed and five were fitted with traffic signals in a $2.8 million safety enhancement project along the dangerous boulevard this year, according to Gene Blaum, PennDOT spokesman.

Romano's death marks the second hit-and-run killing on Roosevelt Boulevard this week. Around 2:08 a.m. Sunday, a man who was crossing the boulevard at Hartel Street was struck by a hit-and-run driver who has yet to be identified. The victim in that case has yet to be identified as well. He is described as a 25-to-35-year-old white man.

Several family members of Romano, who is a father of five, said they have been estranged from him for years because of his intense drug addiction that kept him in and out of jail.

Court records show Romano's criminal record goes back to 1988 and spans Philadelphia, Bucks and Delaware counties. He has multiple charges for theft, drugs, forgery and related offenses.

"We thought we'd be getting a phone call saying he overdosed or something," said one family member, who asked not to be identified. "We never expected this."

Romano's stepmother, Carmella Romano, echoed other family members' shock.

"At least he saved his son, I'm proud of him for that," she said.

Meanwhile, Williams, of 23rd Street near Indiana Avenue, sits in prison on charges of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and related offenses. In March, Williams was sentenced to serve two years' probation on a prior driving under the influence charge, according to court records. His license was not suspended in that case.

Contact Stephanie Farr at farrs@phillynews.com or 215-854-4225. Follow her on Twitter @FarFarrAway. Read her blog at PhillyConfidential.com.