Man charged with DUI, aggravated assault after two picketing city workers are seriously injured in Port Richmond hit-and-run
One of the injured city employees was pregnant and is expected to recover, police said. The other is in critical condition.
Two striking city employees, including one who is pregnant, were seriously injured Thursday night after a hit-and-run while picketing in Port Richmond, union and police officials said Friday.
The incident happened around 11:30 p.m. at a strike line at 3901 N. Delaware Ave. Police said the workers were sitting on chairs on the sidewalk when a Chevrolet Tahoe jumped the curb and struck two people at the front of the picket line.
“Two of our brave members, including one who was pregnant, were out in the middle of the night, standing for a cause to improve their families’ lives, when they were senselessly struck down by a vehicle and seriously injured,” Greg Boulware, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, said in a statement.
The union’s more than 9,000 members have been on strike since Tuesday as Boulware negotiates with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration in a bid to win higher wage increases in their next contract.
After striking the two victims, the 41-year-old driver fled the scene, police said. Officers apprehended the driver on the 2900 block of Castor Avenue, where they took him and a passenger in the car into custody.
Police later identified the driver as Damon Robinson of the 1400 block of South 2nd Street. He is charged with driving under the influence, aggravated assault, and related offenses.
The victims were a 36-year-old woman who is expected to recover, and a 40-year-old man who is in critical condition after sustaining a serious head injury.
This is a developing story that will be updated.