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A Philadelphia man’s heroic actions in his final moments of life saved the life of one of his children. The fatal pedestrian accident occurred as the man was walking with his 5-year-old child when they crossed a busy Philadelphia street where a mid-block crosswalk had recently been removed.
As they were crossing the street, an alleged drunk driver careened towards them. The man pushed his son out of the way but couldn’t get himself out of the path of the oncoming vehicle. He was struck and killed by the purported drunk driver. This is the second hit-and-run death on this street in just a week.
Several family members expressed their shock over the tragic accidental death of this man, who they say has been troubled by drug addiction and other problems throughout his adult life. However, a family member expressed pride for the man who is credited for saving his son’s life at the expense of his own life.
The accused drunk driver who killed the man had a prior conviction for drunk driving, yet was still able to drive. Some argue that the laws that allowed this drunk driver to stay behind the wheel killed this father of five children.
A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesperson said that the PennDOT initiated a $2.8 million safety enhancement project on the street this year. Five mid-block crosswalks that did not have traffic signals, including where the man was killed, have been removed, and five have had traffic signals installed.
Although the PennDOT is working to make this street safer, it doesn’t appear like the job has been done as of yet.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, “Hit-run victim’s last act may have been his best,” Stephanie Farr, Aug. 31, 2012