Hit-and-run driver sought after grandmother killed in West Philly

WEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are looking for the hit-and-run driver of a white minivan, who they say struck and killed a woman in West Philadelphia.

Forty-eight-year-old Catherine Brown was struck while carrying her 3-year-old grandson after exiting a trolley at the intersection of 57th and Girard around 8 p.m. Friday.

Action News is told Brown, along with the grandson she was carrying, and five other grandchildren were in the neighborhood for a birthday party.

"She had her grandchildren in front of her and she had her 3-year-old grandbaby in her arms, and when the car came and hit her, she threw her grandbaby off, she protected him," said Miyetta Hardy, family friend.

We spoke with an eye witness who saw it all unfold.

"It looked like he was trying to make the light, but he wasn't looking up. You just saw a light in his car, so I kind of figure he was on his phone," said Jalaa Pauling of West Philadelphia.

Detectives say Brown immediately lost control of her grandson and then was horrifically dragged down 57th by the minivan.

"Me and a couple other neighbors screamed, 'Stop!', but he just kept going," said Jalaa Pauling of West Philadelphia.

"It sounded like a little boy, like he was screaming like he was hurt," said another witness.

A neighbor says police took surveillance video from her home of the white minivan as it went speeding by.

Unfortunately, it's not clear enough to make out a license plate number.

Police say there were five other children with the woman. They were unharmed.

"We just ran over to the baby to get the baby of the street, and were like where is the grandmom? And her body was at the end of the block," said Pauling.

Investigators say the 3-year-old grandson, who was being carried during the impact, is going to be physically OK.

But his grandma was pronounced dead shortly after she was hit.

If you happen to know anything about the fatal hit-and-run accident call the Philadelphia police immediately.