Philadelphia officer failed to help hit-and-run victim before and after deadly crash: police

PHILADELPHIA - Investigators are searching for a hit-and-run driver after a man was fatally struck moments after falling into the road during an encounter with a Philadelphia police officer who did not provide help, authorities announced on Friday.

Hit-and-run leads to internal affairs investigation

What we know:

Police say the deadly hit-and-run happened early Thursday morning on the 5500 block of Rising Sun Avenue in the city's Olney section.

First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford said police were first notified about the fatal crash by the medical examiner's office hours after it happened, leading investigators to pull security camera videos from nearby businesses and city cameras.

Footage shows the victim walking with an "unsteady gait" in the bike lane on Rising Sun Avenue around 1:40 a.m. when a Philadelphia police officer stops to speak with him. Investigators say the man fell to the ground during the encounter, lying partially in the bike lane and the roadway.

The officer pulls in front of the victim and exits their vehicle, continuing to speak with the victim as he lay on the ground. Stanford says the officer eventually returned to his vehicle and drove away, leaving the man lying in the roadway. 

With the officer gone, a passerby then walks over to the victim and has a brief conversation before leaving him behind. That's when police say an oncoming vehicle sees the victim in the road and stops, and another vehicle goes around the stopped car and strikes the victim.

The passerby and another person who saw the crash rushed over to pull the man out of the road and call for help. Stanford said the officer from the initial encounter was first to respond, and did not file a police report. 

Stanford calls incident "very troubling"

What they're saying:

First Deputy Commissioner John Stanford called the deadly incident "very troubling" and rebuked the officer's actions. 

"What we can see on video doesn't fall in line with our policies as a police department," Stanford said. "Very troubling to see there's an officer that responds to this location and fails to render any type of aid prior to the individual being struck by that vehicle."

Hit-and-run vehicle sought

What you can do:

Investigators are searching for a green 2023-2026 Kia Sportage X-Line Series with black and chrome rims, Stanford announced on Friday.

The Philadelphia Police Department shared photos of the suspected hit-and-run vehicle.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the vehicle or the driver should contact police.

Victim, officer not identified

What we don't know:

Police have not released the name of the officer or the victim killed in the hit-and-run.

Police say the officer has been removed from street duty as the investigation unfolds.