Stolen truck runs red light, crashes into playground outside Southwest Philadelphia school, police say
A driver in a stolen utility truck sped through a red light and crashed into a playground outside S. Weir Mitchell Elementary in Southwest Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
Police on Wednesday announced 18-year-old Robert Littlepage Jr., of Douglasville, Georgia, was arrested and will be charged with attempted carjacking, aggravated assault and related offenses.
According to prosecutors, around 2 p.m. Tuesday, Littlepage attempted a carjacking before jumping into a utility vehicle that was left running at the intersection of 62nd and Reedland streets.
He then crashed outside the school at 55th Street and Kingsessing Avenue around 2:30 p.m.
Surveillance video obtained by CBS News Philadelphia shows the stolen utility truck running a red light and hitting a Subaru before crashing at the playground. The driver of the Subaru was taken to the hospital, according to police. Their condition wasn't immediately available.
The owner of the stolen truck owns a Philadelphia construction company. He said his employee was cleaning up for the day around 2:15 p.m. with the truck running near 62nd and Reedland streets when someone jumped in the driver's seat and took off. The driver only got a few blocks away before crashing into the Subaru and the playground.
Witnesses said there were about 10-15 7th-grade students on the playground when the truck flew through the fence and landed on its side. None of them were injured, according to an official at Mitchell Elementary.
Jamele Ransom, a crossing guard, witnessed the crash and sprang into action to help the students on the playground.
"I bobbed and weaved, I run in there, I pulled a kid out under the monkey bars, I pulled a kid up out of there," Ransom said.
"Thank you, Jesus, for letting me be alive," he added.
Tyrone Smalls' parked car was hit during the crash.
"A total wreck, it's a total mess," Smalls said. "I had no idea. My neighbor called me and said, 'Someone hit your car.' I didn't think it was that bad until I got home. Then I seen the truck in the school yard. This is crazy."
Prosecutors said Littlepage was arrested last month in Delaware County and charged with burglary and other related offenses in connection with an incident that happened in Darby Borough.
