Mother dies, son injured after being struck in Port Richmond; driver suspected of DUI

PORT RICHMOND (WPVI) -- Police say a mother is dead and her young son is injured after being struck by a vehicle in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia.

It happened before 9 p.m. Saturday at Aramingo Avenue and Tioga Street.

A mother, son and daughter were standing on the corner when an SUV jumped the curb and plowed into them.

That driver took down a pole before striking the mother and son.

The 39-year-old woman managed to push her 11-year-old daughter out of the way. But was not able to get herself and 9-year-old son out of the way in time.

She was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital where she died from her injuries.

Her son was taken to St. Christopher's Hospital. He is in critical but stable condition.

The daughter was not hurt.

Action News spoke to a 15-year-old witness who comforted the children while their mother laid on the roadway.

"I see him crash, I see him crash. He was just driving. The mother was coming...with her food. She pushed the daughter away, but she didn't have time to push her son away. So bad looking at that. It just really traumatizing," said Dulyeinis Perez.

A second witness kept the driver from leaving the scene.

Pablo Rivera said "I was sitting in the car and did not see the accident. But we went towards the guy that was inside the car, and we tried to take the keys out the ignition..."

The driver of the striking vehicle, a 29-year-old male, was taken into custody, and put into handcuffs.

Police say they suspect the man was driving under the influence.

The crash remains under investigation.

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