Cops: DUI driver smashes into six vehicles, kills pedestrian

A pedestrian died after he was struck by a driver police allege had been intoxicated when he lost control of his van and struck six other vehicles on Torresdale Avenue in Tacony on Sunday, authorities said.

Norman J. Ewing, 73, of the 6300 block of Torresdale Avenue, was fatally struck while standing near his Ford sedan that had been hit by a vehicle driven by Luis Hernandez, 32. Ewing was pronounced dead at Aria Torresdale Hospital shortly after the accident.

Police said about 4:30 p.m. Hernandez was driving south on Torresdale when he struck the first vehicle that slammed into a second vehicle, both parked at the southbound curb. Hernandez's van then crossed the median into the northbound bike lane where Ewing's Ford was struck and Ewing was fatally injured.

Hernandez continued travelling south in the northbound lanes, striking another parked car and then collided with a Hyundai sedan in the 6500 block of Torresdale Avenue. The vehicle crossed back into the southbound lane and collided with another vehicle at Robbins Avenue. Hernandez allegedly then drove east on Robbins, where the van became disabled and Hernandez attempted to get out of the rear of his vehicle. Police arrested Hernandez, who was suspected of driving under the influence and arrested. Charges are pending against Hernandez, of the 6200 block of Farnsworth Street in Mayfair.

Three other people in vehicles struck by the van were taken to Aria Torresdale Hospital with neck and back pains, police said.

It was the second fatal accident in Philadelphia over the weekend. On Saturday, police said a 79-year-old man was travelling west on the 2200 block of Spruce Street about 10 p.m. when he crashed his Nissan Altima into four parked cars, according to police. The driver was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:30 p.m. A passenger in the car was not injured, police said. No additional details were released about the accident.