A tragic incident in Philadelphia has claimed the life of an infant after her grandfather, allegedly driving under the influence, crashed a private ambulance while rushing her to hospital, sending the baby and her mother flying through the windshield.
Fatal Early Morning Collision
The devastating crash occurred at approximately 5:15 AM on Sunday at the Harbison Avenue intersection in Frankford. According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, the ambulance, which was operating without lights or sirens, ran a red light at high speed before colliding with a red 2010 Honda Accord.
The impact was severe enough to send the ambulance careening into a pole and flipping onto its side. The second vehicle involved in the collision crashed into a nearby building, though its 25-year-old driver fortunately refused medical treatment at the scene.
Victims and Aftermath
The infant victim has been identified by Philadelphia Police as Marian Harris. Tragically, she was pronounced dead at the hospital just one hour after the crash at 6:17 AM. Her 33-year-old mother sustained severe head trauma and remains in critical condition following the incident.
Police confirmed in official statements that "the force ejected both the adult passenger, identified as the infant's mother, and the infant through the front windshield of [the ambulance]. Both were found on the roadway."
Grandfather Faces Serious Charges
The 51-year-old ambulance driver, identified by sources as Harris's grandfather, was also transported to hospital following the collision. Authorities have indicated he will face multiple charges including driving under the influence.
Investigators revealed that the family had initially called 911 regarding an unresponsive infant but departed their home in the privately-owned ambulance before emergency services could arrive. The vehicle is believed to belong to the grandfather, who was reportedly off-duty at the time but had been a longtime employee of MedStar ambulance service.
Community Reaction and Investigation
A nearby resident described the chaotic scene to local media: "It was like several different noises, and I wasn't sure exactly what it was, and I came outside, and I just saw a bunch of police cars coming into the neighborhood."
Neighbor Michelle King expressed the community's grief, stating: "It's horrible...so sad. It hurts my heart. I'm just praying for them."
The Daily Mail has reached out to both the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office and MedStar for additional information as the investigation continues. The identities of the mother and grandfather have not been officially released by authorities at this time.
