A father-son bike ride on an idyllic spring morning ended yesterday with a nightmarish car crash on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore said a 29-year-old man and his 4-year-old son had been pedaling on a tandem bike when they entered a crosswalk on the Parkway near 23rd Street, near the Philadelphia Museum of Art, about 9:10 a.m.
One motorist stopped, allowed the father and son to cross - and then watched in horror as a 2000 Lexus SUV immediately struck the bike, Vanore said.
The boy suffered a fractured skull and fractured pelvis. He was taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was listed in critical condition, Vanore said.
The boy's father was admitted to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in stable condition with several non-life-threatening injuries. Police didn't identify either victim.
Vanore said the female driver who struck the father and son did not leave the accident scene and appeared to be "shaken up by what happened."
The driver swerved to go around the first motorist and apparently did not see the tandem bike, Vanore said.
"It's a shame any time you see an accident like this," he said.
There was no stop sign or traffic light at the crosswalk, Vanore noted. Detectives from the police accident-investigation division will determine if any criminal charges should be filed. *
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOST POPULAR PHILLY.COM PHOTOS
Daily Headlines
Subscribe now! Daily Headlines Newsletter
Philly.com news blogs
Philly.com Promotions
