Woman struck, killed by truck in Holmesburg ID'd

HOLMESBURG (WPVI) -- Police have identified the woman struck and killed by a truck on Tuesday evening in the Holmesburg section of Philadelphia.

Theresa Pozzi, 33, of the 600 block of Kimball Street, was struck at 5:20 p.m. in the 8100 block of State Road.

"If anybody can please help us. If you're a mother, you'll know what I'm going through. Please," the victim's mother Anna Pozzi told Action News.

Police say Pozzi was attempting to cross State Road toward the bus stop. Witnesses say Theresa had just made it to the middle of the road.

"Whoever the driver was knew they hit her; you heard the impact," witness Linda Alfonsi told Action News.

"While in the middle of the street, she was struck by a tow truck, that from witnesses accounts was a black tow truck, that was driving at a high rate of speed," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said.

The driver of the vehicle never stopped. Police are now looking for a dark colored tow truck or pickup truck.

Accident Investigation Division officers were back at the scene Wednesday looking for video surveillance footage from the businesses lining State Road.

Theresa's family is hoping for her sake they find it.

"She was a good person with a good heart. She's my child's godmother," brother-in-law Victor Resigno said.

Her family says Theresa had been visiting her boyfriend in prison.

They say she battled drug addiction for years.

But, she had been making progress in therapy and had turned her life around.

"She was working towards a better life and her life got cut short," Resigno said.

Theresa had been planning to spend Christmas with her family.

They take comfort only in the fact that witnesses stopped and tried to keep Theresa warm until the ambulance arrived.

"They did not leave my daughter on the side of the road like she was nothing. I thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart," Anna Pozzi said.

Alfonsi, driving on the same road, was one of those who witnessed the incident.

"I saw her walk up to the center line and then she was gone and then her cell phone and purse hit my car," Alfonsi said.

Alfonsi parked her SUV and got out to find the victim.

"I don't know how anybody could do that. It's traumatizing. One minute she's there and then gone. He just left her there, he just took off, he didn't even stop. He didn't ease up on the gas or nothing," Alfonsi said.

Kathy Metelous of Northeast Philadelphia was also driving on State Road when she saw the victim go airborne.

The driver of the hit-and-run tow truck didn't stop, but Metelous did.

"I ran up to her to see if she was conscious or if her airway was where she could breathe, and keep her warm and comfortable, but she was very injured," Metelous said.

Witnesses who stopped to help hope police track down the driver responsible.

"I hope they find him because he definitely did an injustice tonight to that poor woman," Alfonsi said.

The tow truck or pickup truck that hit Theresa has at least one broken light and probably other front end damage.