A motorist traveling at high speed triggered a chain reaction crash that claimed the life of one man and damaged a Bustleton bank early Sunday, Philadelphia police said.
Two men were traveling in a 2012 Volkswagen southbound on the 9400 block of Krewstown Road at 3:52 a.m. when the 23-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed the northbound side of the road, mounted a curb and struck a fire hydrant, said Officer Jim Brown of the Accident Investigation Division. The fire plug became dislodged and struck a parked car occupied by a sleeping man, who was not injured.
Meanwhile, the Volkswagen continued into the Krewstown Center parking lot and struck a Dumpster, overturned and struck a post in the drive-thru lane of a Citizens Bank branch. The 28-year-old passenger died at the scene, while the driver was taken to Aria Health-Torresdale in critical condition with unspecified injuries, Brown said. Authorities did not release their identities.
No criminal charges were filed, but the crash remains under police investigation. ••