Multi-vehicle crash in Germantown leaves 2 people dead; 3 others injured

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Two people were killed and several others injured in a multi-vehicle crash Monday night in Philadelphia's Germantown neighborhood, a crash police say happened after officers attempted to stop a speeding vehicle.

The crash occurred around 8 p.m. near the intersection of West Godfrey Avenue and 20th Street.

Police said a Nissan carrying four young people was speeding westbound on West Godfrey Avenue when another vehicle pulled out at the intersection and was struck.

The impact caused the Nissan to spin out of control and hit several parked vehicles.

Doorbell camera video captured the speed of the Nissan moments before the crash. Police said the force of the collision sent debris flying and ejected three of the Nissan's passengers from the vehicle.

"You could hear like a whole bunch of 'bang, bang, bang,'" said Jacquelyn Reeves, who lives nearby. "I came downstairs and I saw all the craziness out here."

Philadelphia police said officers had been attempting to stop the Nissan for speeding before the crash occurred.

The other vehicle involved, a Honda driven by a 72-year-old woman, was struck during the collision. Police said she was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition.

Two males in the Nissan were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. They were identified as a 19-year-old passenger and the driver, whose age has not been released because he did not have identification.

A 16-year-old and a 20-year-old were taken to the hospital for treatment.

"They had to actually cut the driver out of the car, but I hadn't noticed the bodies, and then I turned around and I could see two bodies up underneath the car," Reeves said. "One wasn't moving at all."

Investigators said they recovered a firearm at the scene.

"We did find a gun - a semiautomatic gun - that is broken in several pieces on the scene, and there are several live rounds," said Chief Inspector Scott Small of the Philadelphia Police Department. "We believe that gun was in the Nissan."

Police said the Nissan's license plate was checked and the vehicle had not been reported stolen. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 215-686-TIPS.

(Correction: A previous version of this story stated that one of the people killed was 17 years old).