According to a story appearing on The Derrick website and via the Associated Press, two Pennsylvania State Troopers and a civilian were killed in a car crash on Interstate 95 early Monday, March 21.
Pennsylvania authorities say that the multi-fatality crash happened at approximately 12:45 a.m. when state troopers responded to a call about a man who was walking in a southbound lane near Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The responding Pennsylvania State Troopers were taking the man off the roadway and out of harm’s way when a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed swerved onto the shoulder in an attempt to pass the stopped State Trooper’s cruiser. The suspect driver struck both troopers and the man they had just taken into custody.
According to a statement made by Captain James B. Kemm of the Pennsylvania State Patrol, the force of the impact sent both officers into the northbound lane. Backup units responded to the crash and attempted to perform CPR on the victims. Despite all life-saving efforts, all three were declared dead at the scene.
Interstate traffic was shut down for several hours while the scene was investigated. Authorities say the crash is being treated as a DUI investigation.
A group of Philadelphia police officers riding motorcycles came to the scene at approximately 6:00 a.m. to escort the bodies of the fallen officers from the scene.
Authorities had not yet released the identity of the suspect driver at the time of the report. Pennsylvania prosecutors haven’t decided what charges the suspected DUI driver will face.
