Name: Boy, 6, recovering after being struck by van in North Philadelphia; Driver sought
Uploaded: 2021-05-19T12:08:02-04:00
Description: Marcus Espinoza describes the scene where the six-year-old boy was struck and speaks with the boy's mother

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Boy, 6, recovering after being struck by van in North Philadelphia; Driver sought

Marcus Espinoza describes the scene where the six-year-old boy was struck and speaks with the boy's mother

PHILADELPHIA - A 6-year-old boy is recovering after he was the victim of a hit-and-run in North Philadelphia and the search is on the to find the driver.

Police say the incident happened May 16, about 5:20 p.m. on the 600 block of Erie Avenue, when the victim attempted to cross the road with his 10-year-old sister.

Loading Video…

This browser does not support the Video element.

Boy, 6, recovering after being struck by van in North Philadelphia; Driver sought

Police say the incident happened on May 16 at approximately 5:20 p.m. when the victim attempted to cross the road with his 10-year-old sister.

The child ran forward and into the side of a passing vehicle, according to authorities.

The driver of the vehicle got out, checked on the boy, and then got back in the vehicle and fled the scene.

Police say they are lookin for a light-colored minivan with a temporary New Jersey paper tag that reads 005218T.

There's significant damage on the driver-side front door and the rear driver-side door.

"The benefit of the doubt is not going to last very long," Commanding Officer with PPD Accident Investigation District Captain Mark Overwise said as he urged the driver to turn himself in.

The minivan was last seen heading west on Erie Avenue.

The boy’s mother is speaking out, asking for the public’s help finding the driver.

"He needs to be in jail, in my opinion. He needs to be in jail. You left the scene, you made it a crime when you left. It was an accident, but you made it a crime," mom Kelli Epps stated.

A local security camera caught the terrifying moment. A witness caught the license plate number.

Epps feared the worst.

"Instantly screamed. I take off, my boyfriend is outside. He just pulled up, he left his truck open. I left the front door open and we just take off running down the street," Epps described.

Captain Overwise says the temporary tag makes the search for the driver complicated.

"We have to trace down the dealership that issued that temporary license plate and it’s a matter of tracing down the paperwork. Provided that transaction was legit, we’ll be able to eventually find out who bought the vehicle," Captain Overwise explained.

Epps says her son is in pain, depressed and embarrassed over his cuts and scarring. She wants the driver off the streets.

"It clearly tells me you don’t care and you don’t need to be driving around. If you hit my child, you’ll hit anything and just leave," Epps lamented.

The child is home resting with severe bruises to his face and body, after spending multiple days in a hospital.

Anyone with information regarding the incident or the driver is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department's Accident Investigation District at 215-685-3180 or 3181.