Army vet, 71, struck and killed in Olney hit-and-run

OLNEY (WPVI) -- A 71-year-old Army veteran was killed early Sunday morning by a suspected drunk driver.

It happened just before 2 a.m. at Marvine Street and Chew Avenue in Philadelphia's Olney section.

"Most of the neighbors would be devastated. He is a kind man. He just goes back and forth to the store," said neighborhood resident Marlene Evans.

Along 12th Street in Olney neighbors always saw him walking to and from the bus stop. Some knew him - all knew of him.

Evans was shocked when she heard that her elderly neighbor of 30 years was hit and killed by a car. So was Richard Upchurch.

"I just saw him like a day and a half ago and I was just like, we just talked, we just spoke and everything. He didn't say much. He would just nod at you and that was it," said Upchurch.

Police say around 1:40 in the morning the 71-year-old victim was in the crosswalk at Chew Avenue and 12 Street when he was struck by a speeding car going eastbound.

Philadelphia Police Capt. Drew Techner says, "The impact must have been to such an extent that the victim was either thrown or dragged a block further eastbound down the street. It appears from the evidence at the scene that there was some dragging of the victim."

The 25-year-old male driver kept going, but came to a stop two blocks down the street when he crashed into a fence not far from a playground. He was arrested and taken to the hospital with a broken leg.

"The scene out here is rather grisly. In addition to the front grill and the headlights we have a victim a 71 year old retired male who had major trauma injuries at the time that he died out here," said Techner.

Neighbors say the victim, who police have not identified, was one of the oldest residents in the neighborhood. A veteran, a husband, father and neighbor who will be dearly missed.

Marlene Evans says, "He's just a fixture in the neighborhood. Once you see him you just know who he is. You might not know his name, but you know him."

As far as the driver, police say this is a suspected DUI incident. He is being tested, but those results have not yet been released.