Video captures frightening Mack truck crash that left girl with only minor injuries, witnesses say

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A young girl escaped with what witnesses described as only a few scratches after she was struck and trapped under a Mack truck in the Summerdale section of Philadelphia.

It happened on Friday afternoon at the intersection of Summerdale Avenue and Marcella Street.

Video obtained by Action News shows the girl, wearing a backpack and looking down at her phone, crossing the street in front of a stopped truck. Moments later, the truck begins moving forward, pushing the girl before she falls to the ground and becomes trapped underneath.

"She was under it; she was actually under it," a witness said.

Employees of Ivonne Jewelry said they were outside around the time school let out when the incident occurred. They said they do not typically spend time outside during the day, but happened to be there when the crash unfolded.

"We see this young lady come from school and cross the street; she's on the phone; she don't see the truck," said Ivonne Roson, owner of Ivonne Jewelry.

Roson said the truck began moving as the girl crossed the street.

"She crossed the street, and he started the truck," Roson said.

Bladimir, an employee at the business, said he immediately reacted when he saw the danger.

"In the video, I was the guy standing there and started waving immediately when I saw the truck," he said.

Bladimir said he ran toward the truck and signaled for the driver to stop. After the vehicle came to a halt, he checked on the girl.

"I asked her how she was. She said she was fine; only her hair was right under the truck," he said. "I didn't see blood or any injuries she told me she was OK."

According to Bladimir, the truck driver appeared unaware that the girl had been struck.

"I told him, ' Don't move the truck. You have a girl under the truck,'" he said.

Bladimir said he does not believe the driver saw the girl before the truck moved.

"She's not supposed to be crossing that way; there is not a crosswalk there; it's at the corner," he said.

Witnesses said they repeatedly checked on the girl after the incident before walking her home. They also said she never let go of her phone.

Police said officers were called to the scene, but everyone involved had left before they arrived. The incident remains under investigation.