Cops say drag racing behind crash that killed 3; 2nd driver sought

Two young men drag racing last July caused the deaths of two young women and a young man, police said Monday.

The driver of the 2007 Acura that split in two after hitting a tree was identified as Christopher Bloomfield, 20, of the 800 block of Knorr Street.

Bloomfield now faces charges of homicide by vehicle and involuntary manslaughter for the deaths ofYvette Gonzalez, 17,Sabrina Rhoads, 17, and FelipHernandez, 20, all of whom were passengers in the car. Gonzalez and Rhoadsboth died after being ejected from the vehicle. Herandez died trapped in the wreckage.

Police announced for the first time Monday that Bloomfield was drag racing at the time of the crash around 11:44 p.m. on July 29 on Sandemeyer Lane in Northeast Philly when he hit a curb and crashed into a tree.

A fourth passengerin Bloomfield’s vehicle,a 17-year-old man,was critically injured. Police responding to the scene did not locate Bloomfielduntil 4 a.m. when they learned he was transported to a hospital by a private vehicle.

Police have issued an arrest warrant on charges of vehicular homicide against Ryan Farrell, 20, of the 10000 block of Northeast Avenue,after determining he was the other driver racing with Bloomfield at the time of the crash. Police did not state how they determined Farrell was the other driver.

Anyone with information about Farrell’s whereabouts is being ask to contact the Accident Investigation District at 215-685-3180 or call 911.