Avila
An intoxicated Wissinoming woman in a stolen SUV tried to run down a police officer on a Kensington sidewalk, prompting the officer to shoot her. But that didn’t stop the motorist’s rampage last Thursday morning, authorities say.
Despite her wounded hand, the woman led police on a pursuit into Port Richmond, where she crashed into a patrol wagon. Only then did she end up in police custody. She was identified as Erica Avila, 33, of the 5800 block of Harbison Ave.
The episode began at 9:26 a.m. on the 600 block of E. Clearfield St. Two cops were in a patrol car traveling east on the one-way street when they saw a 2004 Jeep Laredo approaching them in the opposite direction. Fearing an imminent collision, the officer in the front passenger seat jumped out of the patrol car and ran onto the sidewalk. The SUV drove onto the sidewalk toward the officer, who shot once into the front windshield. The bullet struck the driver in the left hand.
The SUV continued westbound on Clearfield, then southbound on the 3000 block of E St., where it traveled the length of the block on the sidewalk as police pursued her. Minutes later, Avila ended up more than a mile away on the 2900 block of Richmond St., where she struck a concrete barrier at a high rate of speed and careened into a police patrol wagon. Avila’s SUV rolled onto its side.
Avila was arrested and taken to Temple University Hospital for treatment of the hand wound. Police did not disclose any other injuries. Investigators determined that the Jeep had been stolen earlier that day at an undisclosed location.
Avila, who is also known as Erica Lopez, was charged with DUI, aggravated assault, receiving stolen property and related offenses. ••
