Off-duty Philly cop killed in hit-and-run crash on the Boulevard

An off-duty Philadelphia police officer died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run crash Sunday afternoon on Roosevelt Boulevard in Northeast Philadelphia.

Investigators say the officer was struck just after 4 p.m. while riding a motorcycle on the inside lanes at the intersection with Devereaux Avenue, in the Oxford Circle section of the Northeast.

John McNesby, president of Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police, identified the officer as Lamar Poole, an 18-year veteran of the department and a father of seven.

It was not immediately clear whether Poole had been wearing a helmet.

The driver of the car that hit him fled the scene but was taken into custody about a block away near Devereaux and Bustleton Avenue, police said. As of Sunday evening, investigators had not released that person's name.

Poole initially was taken to Aria Health-Torresdale Campus in critical condition. He was pronounced dead about an hour after the crash.

The Police Department said he was assigned to the 12th Police District, which covers much of Southwest Philadelphia.

He is the second off-duty city officer to die in a road accident in as many weekends.

Sgt. Rafael Ali, a 10-year department veteran, died Aug. 22 after he lost control of his truck while speeding and struck a tree along Henry Avenue in Roxborough.

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Inquirer staff writer Chris Brennan contributed to this article.