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Police seek help in 3 fatal hit-runs in Philadelphia

The victims included two 50-year-old men and a 17-year-old boy.

Police seeking the publics help in finding the drivers of vehicles in three separate hit-and-run deaths in the city over the weekend.
Police seeking the publics help in finding the drivers of vehicles in three separate hit-and-run deaths in the city over the weekend.Read moreFile Photo

Philadelphia police are seeking the public's help in finding the drivers involved in three hit-and-run deaths over the weekend.

The first occurred about 8:25 p.m. Friday, when Brian Jones, 50, was struck while crossing Torresdale Avenue in Holmesburg by a gray Toyota Camry. The car  had been heading east on Cottman Avenue, then turned left and into the victim, police said. About 15 seconds later, Jones was hit again by a dark Mitsubishi Galant that made a turn from the westbound lanes of Cottman. Jones, of the 1200 block of Allegheny Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Both drivers, a female in the Camry and a male in the Galant, left the scene, police said.

In the second case, officers responding to a call on the 3500 block of North Randolph Street in North Philadelphia about 12:10 a.m. Sunday were met by a witness who found a 50-year-old man unresponsive in the roadway, police said. The victim, whose name has not been released, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20 a.m. The Medical Examiner's Office determined his injuries were consistent with having been struck by a vehicle. Police have no description of the vehicle.

The victim was identified by his family as Andrew Bagwell.

"He is a grandfather, father, son, uncle, and brother," said his niece, Keisha Tramel. "He was loved by many and I want the person who hit him and left him for dead to be brought to justice.  He did not deserve this…"

Less than an hour later, a 17-year-old boy was hit by a car on the 7600 block of Roosevelt Boulevard in Rhawnhurst, police said. The vehicle, described as a 2007 or 2008 Chevrolet Impala or Malibu, was driven away south on the Boulevard.

The victim. identified Monday as John Gbaa of the 7800 block of Algon Avenue, was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:40 a.m. Police found the car's driver-side door mirror at the scene and said the vehicle would have damage to the driver's-side headlight.

Witnesses or anyone with information about the crashes can call the Accident Investigation Division at 215-685-3180 or call 911.