The alleged drunk driver kept driving after he hit a Ford into its 73-year-old owner, killing him.
By William Kenny
A 73-year-old Tacony man was killed when an alleged drunken driver struck numerous vehicles, including the victim’s parked car, on Torresdale Avenue on Sept. 10, Philadelphia police say.
The chain-reaction crash occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. on the 6500 block of Torresdale Avenue. Luis Hernandez, 32, of the 6200 block of Farnsworth Street, was driving a 2001 GMC minivan southbound on Torresdale when he struck a parked car, crossed the centerline and struck a 2011 Ford sedan that had been double-parked facing southbound in the northbound bicycle lane, police said.
The second impact pushed the Ford into its operator, who was standing nearby. Police identified the victim as Norman J. Ewing of the 6300 block of Torresdale Avenue. He was taken to Aria-Jefferson Health’s Torresdale campus and pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m.
After striking Ewing’s vehicle, Hernandez’ van continued southbound in the northbound lane and struck a 2011 Hyundai sedan head-on, police said. Hernandez’ van continued southbound, passed Hellerman Street, crossed back into the southbound lane and struck the driver’s side of a 2006 Saturn sedan at the Robbins Avenue intersection, police said.
Hernandez then turned eastbound on Robbins, where his van became disabled, police said. Hernandez tried to flee the van, police said, but bystanders prevented him from escaping, according to broadcast news reports. Police arrested Hernandez for suspected DUI. He was taken to Aria-Jefferson’s Frankford campus for undisclosed treatment. Police did not disclose his blood test results.
Three occupants of the victims’ vehicles were also taken to Aria-Torresdale with neck and back pain. Two additional unattended parked cars were damaged by chain reaction crashes. ••
