Police officer killed in car wreck
Narcotics Strike Force Officer Isabel Nazario died late Friday night after her cruiser was struck by an SUV driven by a teenage suspect in Mantua.
Just got back in the office a little while ago from HUP. Truly sad story -- several versions of which might appear in Saturday's paper with varying consistency because of deadlines. Recap:
Narcotics Strike Force Officer Isabel Nazario died late Friday night after her cruiser was struck by an SUV driven by a teenage suspect in Mantua.
At about 9 p.m., 16th District cops attempted to pull over a white Cadillac Escalade near 46th Street and Westminster Avenue in West Philly. The driver sped off and began weaving in and out of traffic, and the officers gave chase, said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore.
Nazario, an 18-year veteran, and her partner, Officer Terry Tull, responded to the radio call and attempted to join the pursuit when they were hit by the very same Escalade at 39th and Wallace streets. The Escalade slammed into the passenger side of the cruiser, where Nazario was seated.
Vanore said Nazario died of her injuries at 9:41 p.m. Tull was listed in stable condition. The driver of the Escalade -- an unlicensed 16-year-old boy who, according to police sources, had three prior arrests -- fled the crash scene on foot but was soon apprehended. He was treated at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and later taken down to the police Homicide Unit for questioning, sources said.
Nazario left behind a mother and daughter, as well as a sister and fiancee who are both Philadelphia police officers. Dozens, if not hundreds, of cops crowded the entrances of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania for hours last night, some openly hugging and weeping. It was the kind of unbearably sad scene that has become all-too-common in the city over the past few years.
At about 12:30 this morning, Mayor Nutter, Police Commissioner Ramsey and many other top commanders emerged from the hospital, looking visibly worn. "Tonight, we lost one of Philadelphia's finest," Nutter said.
Ramsey, who appeared to blink back tears during brief remarks, recalled the springtime murder of Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski. "This is a very difficult time," he said quietly.