Update: Ryan Farrell, 20, surrendered to police on Tuesday.
Police have arrested one driver and are seeking a second in connection with last summer’s deadly street racing crash in Somerton that claimed the lives of two 17-year-old girls and a 20-year-old man, while critically injuring a 17-year-old boy.
Christopher Bloomfield, 20, of the 800 block of Knorr St. in Lawndale, was arrested at his home on Saturday, almost seven months after the fatal accident. He was charged with multiple counts of homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, aggravated assault and related offenses.
On Monday, the Philadelphia Police Department released the photo of a second man who investigators believe was racing Bloomfield at high speed along the 10000 block of Sandmeyer Lane last July 29 just before the deadly crash occurred. Ryan Farrell, 20, of the 10000 block of Northeast Ave., is wanted on charges of homicide by vehicle, causing an accident involving death, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault by vehicle.
The accident occurred at about 11:44 p.m. when Bloomfield’s 2007 Acura failed to navigate a sharp left turn in the road, mounted a curb and struck a tree, which severed the car in half. Investigators believe the car was traveling at about 75 miles per hour at the time. Three passengers were launched from the vehicle. Yvette Gonzalez, 17, of the 700 block of Rhawn St., and Sabrina Rhoads, 17, of the 100 block of Newberry St., each died at the scene. Police found a 20-year-old man in the street near the wreckage. He was critically injured but survived. Police also found Felip Hernandez, 20, of Medford, New Jersey, trapped in the back seat of Bloomfield’s car. He also died at the scene.
Hours after the crash, Bloomfield allegedly arrived in a private car at Albert Einstein Medical Center dressed in blood-covered clothes and seeking treatment. Police questioned him during an ensuing investigation, but did not arrest him at the time.
Police recovered surveillance video from a business nearby the crash scene that appears to show a second car traveling at high speed alongside Bloomfield’s vehicle shortly before the crash. It appears to be a dark BMW sedan. Days after the crash, a tipster directed police to a 2004 BMW that had been parked along an unspecified block of Jeanes Street. Police seized the car, suspecting it might have been involved in the crash. They interviewed the car’s owner, but made no arrests at the time.
On Monday, police did not disclose the information that led them to suspect Farrell’s involvement. Call the Accident Investigation District at 215–685–3180 or call 911 to report information about Farrell. ••
