Cars Involved In Fatal Northeast Crash Were Speeding; Woman Killed Said To Have Been Pregnant
By Jenn Bernstein and Syma Chowdhry
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Police continue to investigate the circumstances of a two-vehicle crash in Northeast Philadelphia that happened late Monday night, and now sources say the woman who was killed may have been pregnant.
The accident was reported at about 11:10 p.m. at Red Lion Road near East Roosevelt Boulevard.
Eyewitness News is told that one vehicle jumped the median and struck a tree. Six people were involved -- three in each car, including two young children. One person, a woman, was killed, and a 22-year-old man and a six-month-old child were injured. All were taken to Aria Health Torresdale Campus.
"They collided somehow, we're still piecing it together," said Captain John Wilczynski. "Unfortunately, there was a female passenger that perished as a result of that crash."
She was later identified as 22-year-old Anna Marie Drummond, of the 4300 block of "I" Street in Philadelphia.
Police also said the people in the two cars knew each other. Eyewitness Lynn Polasik says the drivers were both going at least 50 miles per hour; the speed limit on Red Lion Road is 35 mph.
"They were definitely racing, they were going at least 55 an hour," said Polesik.
She also described the crash for CBS3's Jenn Bernstein.
"I looked up into the street and at that moment, I saw a car in the right lane get clipped by the car in the left lane," said Polesik. "He spins out of control, hits the tree, the front of the car engulfs in flames."
She ran over to help, and that's when a man jumped out of the car.
"He has no idea that his leg is broken," she recalled.
Police say two baby boys -- both just a year old -- were in the separate cars.
The 22-year-old driver of one car broke his leg and was treated at a local hospital. The passengers of the other car, a woman and a man, are expected to be okay. The two children, who were in separate cars, were strapped into safety seats in the backseat and are also expected to be fine.
"Fortunately, they seem to be okay right now they are being checked at area hospitals," said Captain Wilczynski.
Sadly, friends of the deceased woman told Eyewitness News that she may have been pregnant.
Polesik says the scene was chaotic with bystanders trying to get Drummond out of the burning vehicle. "People were screaming there is someone still in the car. It was very tragic."
Police arrived Tuesday night to remove debris from the crash.
Police say the drivers of both cars were tested for DUI and police are awaiting the results, and that officials are investigating whether speed played a role in the crash.
