Glenolden man charged in fatal Philly hit-and-run

Philadelphia police have charged a 29-year-old Glenolden, Delaware County, man for allegedly fleeing the scene of a homeless woman’s death after drunkenly striking her with his car.

Andrew Acito, 29, of the 1000 block of Poplar Street in Glenolden, is accused of fatally striking the wheelchair-bound woman at Lehigh Avenue and Mascher Street in Kensington over the weekend before driving away, and also injuring an 18-year-old female pedestrian nearby as he fled, police said.

The 37-year-old woman who died was identified by police as Elaine Heyl. Witnesses described her as an amputee and a veteran, 6ABC reported.

Acito allegedly was driving a Ford F-250 pickup truck around 1:40 a.m. on Aug. 20 when he hit the woman while she was in her wheelchair on the center median of the road. While fleeing down Lehigh Avenue, he struck an 18-year-old female, and police cars stopped him further down on B Street, where he was arrested for driving under the influence, authorities said.

The teenage victim identified Acito’s vehicle as the one that hit her, police said. She was treated for minor injuries.

The wheelchair bound victim was pronounced dead at 2:11 a.m.

Acito now faces charges of vehicular homicide. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 7.