U. Darby crash injures 3 boys; woman in custody

By Sam Wood and Mari A. Schaefer

Inquirer Staff Writers

A Lansdowne woman, swerving across three lanes of busy Marshall Road in Upper Darby to get around a traffic jam yesterday, slammed her car into two schoolchildren, then drove on at high speed and hit a third boy, throwing him against a building and leaving him in a coma, police said.

In critical but stable condition at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia last night was Philmon Beyene, 12. He was on a respirator.

Jemel Brunswick, 13, and Tyler Lowery, 12, were at the same hospital in serious condition being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

The boys, seventh graders at Beverly Hills Middle School, had been dismissed from classes early for the Thanksgiving holiday, Chitwood said.

Shortly after noon, Brunswick and Lowery were standing together, waiting to cross Marshall Road. A Dodge Charger, driven by the 42-year-old woman, then swerved, Chitwood said.

When the car plowed into Brunswick and Lowery, one of the boys was tossed into the air and bounced off the windshield, shattering it, Chitwood said.

The car continued 15 yards and struck Beyene. The impact sent him into the side of an auto-parts store. The car did not stop.

The Dodge returned to the eastbound lanes, where it traveled 50 more yards before striking a Subaru station wagon. The force drove the Subaru into a parked Mercedes-Benz. The Dodge continued for an additional 20 yards before stopping.

"Based on what I saw, there was an indication she was trying to get away," Chitwood said. "What stopped the car, that will come with an examination of the vehicle."

Police took the woman, whom Chitwood did not identify, into custody and took her to Upper Darby police headquarters. Charges were pending last night. Officers also questioned the woman's grown daughter, who was in the front passenger seat, Chitwood said.

Sheree Barkley, the manager of the Auto Zone store on the 7100 block of Marshall Road, said she heard the "boom, boom, boom" of the crash. Outside, she saw the three injured boys.

One lay moaning in the middle of the street. Another was partly under a car, bleeding from a gash on his head. The third lay unconscious against the store's wall.

"He wasn't moving at all," Barkley said. "It was a gruesome sight."

Contact staff writer Sam Wood at 215-854-2796 or samwood@phillynews.com.

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