4 young children hurt when driver crashes into a prom celebration, police say

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) - Five people, including four children, are recovering from injuries after a driver struck them during a prom celebration in Philadelphia.

The 18-year-old driver is in custody.

Philadelphia police responded after 6 p.m. Friday after a driver sped down the block, hitting four children ranging in age from 3 to 6 and an adult.

“It’s like sped up, you know, real quick to do a burnout. Turned up that street. I hear ‘Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop,’ and all these people screaming. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what did I just witness?’ I called 911,” Tanya Roach, who witnessed the crash, said.

The victims were rushed to local hospitals.

Police said the 18-year-old driver drove along the sidewalk for 20 to 30 yards.

“The car was traveling. This is a one-way street, and it left the roadway. You can see the debris on the sidewalk, various pots that were on the sidewalk, balloons, that sort of thing. There were some tables that were set up. All of that is destroyed,” Philadelphia police Inspector D.F. Pace said.

Police said the 18-year-old fled the scene in a maroon Chrysler and someone went after him.

“One of the fathers, one of the parents of one of the children that were struck got into their car and then gave chase in his car,” Pace said.

Four blocks away, police said a father caught up with him and an altercation broke out.

“It was almost instantaneous. The individual who was here at the party chasing after the 18-year-old, coupled with the officers already searching the area, they were able to pretty much bring that person into custody relatively quickly,” Pace said.

Shantee Pruitt, who witnessed the crash, said her heart is “hurt.”

“In the midst of everybody gathering for the prom, he, it was actually a gust, and I don’t know what happened or what transpired, but he sped across the pavement and just destroyed everything,” Pruitt said.

Police have not released the driver’s name or said what charges he might face.