Philadelphia's Police Commissioner Addresses Spike In Hit And Runs
By Marcy Norton
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- There's been a spike in the number of hit and run accidents in Philadelphia this summer, the most recent involving a five-year-old girl in West Philadelphia on Sunday. She's out of the hospital and police are still looking for the culprit.
Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey acknowledges there's been a larger than usual number of hit and run accidents in the city lately, and he puts the onus on drivers.
"People need to slow down. It's summer time. Kids are out there. Kids run out in the street. You just have to slow down, pay attention, be aware, don't text, don't do anything that's going to distract you at all, while driving," he says.
Ramsey says what usually gets a driver in trouble is leaving the scene.
"Do not leave the scene," he says. "Depending on the circumstances, you know, what usually gets a person in trouble it the fact that they left the scene, not the accident itself."
He says the additional charge of leaving the scene of an accident is no joke. "You can wind up with some serious jail time as a result."
Ramsey also reminds parents to keep ahold of their kids the best they can, and make sure to teach them not to run after toys or other objects that may go into the street.