May 24, 2016
Source/Google StreetView
The intersection of Cottman and Bustleton avenues in Northeast Philadelphia.
A suspect turned himself into authorities Tuesday morning after a man was killed in a hit-and-run overnight while waiting at a SEPTA bus stop in Northeast Philadelphia, according to authorities.
Police said the incident occurred around 12:38 a.m. Tuesday at Cottman and Bustleton avenues.
On Tuesday afternoon, Capt. John Wilczynski with Philadelphia Police Department's Accident Investigation Division identified the victim as Alejo Molina, 50, of the 6600 block of Souden Street.
Molina had been walking home from work, and was just six blocks away from his destination, when he sought cover from a rainstorm under the bus stop canopy, police said.
The suspect in this incident is a 35-year-old man who was not identified further by police.
The vehicle he was driving, a 2003 black Lexus E-300, was not his, and no charges have been filed yet, Wilczynski said.
"We have the vehicle involved," he said. "It's a step-by-step process at this point."
Molina was struck at a high rate of speed, propelling him 120 feet backwards and knocking down the bus shelter, authorities said. Wilczynski said the Lexus had skipped a bend on Bustleton Avenue and swerved straight ahead and into the SEPTA bus shelter where Molina had gone to escape the rain.
"I don't know what caused it [the suspect's vehicle] to go straight," said the captain.
The driver, as well as another male witness who was operating a dark-colored vehicle, both got out of their cars and walked up to the victim, and inspected Molina as he laid on the ground, according to police.
Police said both fled the scene, with the suspect abandoning the Lexus and fleeing south on foot on Bustleton Avenue and the other man getting in his car and driving away.
Police are hoping to identify the driver of the other vehicle, as well, Wilczynski said. He said he was uncertain if the crash may have been the result of a street race between the two drivers.
The suspect turned himself in, at about 7:30 a.m. at police headquarters at the intersection of 8th and Race streets, Wilczynski said. The man was injured and immediately confessed to his role in the crash, he said
"He had a head injury, and he had blood on his clothes," Wilcznski said. "And, he told us that he was involved in the crash."
Also, Wilczynski said he was not sure if the vehicle involved in this incident was stolen, but police learned the vehicle's owner did no know the vehicle was being driven by the suspect.
The captain declined to comment on whether the vehicle's registered owner was related to the suspect.
Wilczynski said that the suspect is in custody, and he expects the man to be charged in connection with Molina's death.
"We are confident on this," he said.
The captain said the suspect will likely be charged Wednesday.
