Man, 59, to be tried in hit-and-run that killed off-duty Phila. police officer

An Oxford Circle man charged with the hit-and-run death of an off-duty Philadelphia police officer waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Philadelphia Municipal Court.

Louis J. Vogwill, 59, now faces trial in Common Pleas Court on a single charge of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury in the Aug. 30 death of Officer Lamar Poole Sr., 42.

Assistant District Attorney Joanne Pescatore said her office agreed to withdraw charges of involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and counts related to drunk driving after blood tests determined Vogwill was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Judge Patrick F. Dugan released Vogwill on electronically monitored house arrest pending trial and ordered that he may not own or operate a motor vehicle.

Poole, an 18-year police veteran, was off duty riding his new Honda VTX motorcycle down Devereaux Street in Oxford Circle when he was hit by a 1999 Toyota Corolla making a left from Devereaux onto southbound Roosevelt Boulevard. Witness said the driver got out, looked at the critically injured officer, got back in his car and drove off. A tow-truck driver followed the Toyota and blocked it in until police arrived. - Joseph A. Slobodzian