Search for driver who injured Sixers' Kelly Oubre Jr. in Philadelphia hit-and-run continues
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia police are still searching for the driver who injured Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. in a hit-and-run over the weekend. Oubre suffered a broken rib when he was struck Saturday by a car not too far from where he lives in Center City.
Investigators are looking for surveillance video in the area with the hopes of finding the driver.
Oubre, 27, was hit by a car while crossing the street near his home by the intersection of Hicks and Spruce Streets, according to police. The car's driver-side mirror hit Oubre in the chest and the driver never stopped, police said.
The Sixers' guard was left with a fractured rib and injuries to his hip and right leg. He was taken to Jefferson Hospital and released a few hours later.
Oubre did not play in the Sixers' 137-126 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey scored a career-high 50 points against Indiana and then dedicated his performance to his teammate.
The Sixers said Oubre is expected to fully recover but will miss significant time because of his injuries.
"He is home resting fairly comfortably. That's kind of where we are right now," Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. "I think he's going to be back, kind of join with the team to be observing practice, etc. by I think Tuesday. I think we're going to have about a week go by before we kind of reevaluate where he's at."
According to Philadelphia police data — the city has had more hit-and-runs so far this year than in the entirety of 2019.
Pedestrian and cyclist safety advocacy groups said they're not surprised.
"This is part of a pattern that is really bedeviling the city," Sarah Clark Stuart, the executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, said.
The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a nonprofit focused on cyclist safety and also works with groups like Families for Safe Streets, which looks to "address traffic violence."
"It's incredibly discouraging that this epidemic is happening in the city," Clark Stuart said.
Clark Stuart said her heart goes out to Oubre as he recovers from a broken rib and other injuries.
"He is unfortunately in a club he doesn't want to join," Clark Stuart said. "But that many people are a part of and it's unnecessary."
Philadelphia police report so far this year the city has seen 640 hit-and-run traffic crashes, including 38 that were fatal.
"We still aren't seeing traffic safety as a priority over convenience and speeds and things like that," Nick Zuwiala-Rogers, the Transportation Program Director at Clean Air Council, said.
Zuwiala-Rogers wants to see more traffic calming measures like speed cushions and the use of flexible posts across the city.
"That should be the whole way down this bike lane and it's not," Zuwiala-Rogers said.
Zuwiala-Rogers' group – Clean Air Council – sponsors Feet First Philly, a volunteer-led pedestrian advocacy group.
"I'm hopeful that it just it being kind of elevated and the discourse, because it was a 76ers player, it'll lead to some change this time," Zuwiala-Rogers said.
