Carjacked vehicle runs down Philadelphia crowd, killing 3 kids

USPA News - A manhunt was launched Friday after two gunmen forced a woman into the backseat of her car and drove it into a group of pedestrians in the city of Philadelphia, killing three children and leaving three adults seriously injured, U.S. police said. The incident began when a woman was carjacked by two men while driving in her white Toyota 4Runner SUV in Philadelphia, the largest city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.

The men forced her into the backseat of her vehicle at gunpoint and sped off, after which they lost control at an intersection about a mile (1.6 kilometer) away. "An adult female was carjacked while inside her white Toyota 4Runner SUV at 2500 North 6th Street by one Hispanic male and one black male," said Officer Jillian Russell. "They drove her around at gunpoint and at some point they came to the intersection of Allegheny and Germantown Avenue, losing control of the vehicle, jumping the northwest curb, and striking a number of people." Footage from the scene showed the pedestrians were struck next to a fruit stand, after which the vehicle careened across a grassy area before slamming into a tree. Both suspects fled the scene on foot, but it was not known whether they were injured in the crash. Russell said one male child was pronounced dead at the scene, while two other children died after being rushed to Temple University Hospital and St. Christopher`s Hospital, respectively. Three adults were injured, including one who remained in a critical condition at Temple University Hospital. Among those injured was the carjacked woman, but the nature of her injuries was not immediately known. Police said homicide detectives along with investigators from the Accident Investigation Division (AID) were at the scene of Friday`s deadly crash. "There is a $20,000 reward - for each fatality - for the arrest and conviction in this incident," Russell said. "If any business or resident has cameras in this area, please contact police."