Tragedy struck in West Philadelphia as a teenager lost her life after being hit by a car while crossing the street with her mother. Dawn Watson, just 14 years old, was struck by a dark gray Mercedes-Benz on Haverford Avenue. The car, speeding eastbound, did not stop after the tragic incident.
MORE: Scooter rider killed in crash with SUV in Northeast Philly
Philadelphia Police Inspector Michael Gormley shared with FOX29 that the car swerved in an attempt to avoid the pedestrians, but the impact was forceful enough to separate Watson from her mother. Tragically, the young girl was found nearly a block away and was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the mother was the sole witness to the heartbreaking collision and was understandably distraught and hysterical in the aftermath. The hit-and-run incident is currently under investigation, with authorities actively looking into surveillance footage that may have captured the event. The Mercedes involved is believed to have suffered significant front end damage.