HIT-RUN HORRORS

COPS NOW PROBING 2 FATAL HIT-RUN CRASHES IN A WEEK

CONCORD >> For the second time in less than a week, police are hunting for a hit-run driver who fatally struck a pedestrian and then fled the scene.

Pennsylvania State Police say a woman walking along the side of northbound Route 202 just north of Pyle Road was struck about 10 p.m. Wednesday. The woman, identified as 28-year-old Jannie Lee Smallwood of Wilmington, Del., was walking on the shoulder of the road when she was fatally struck, according to a release issued by Acting Troop Commander Lt. James J. Hennigan. The driver of the vehicle then fled the scene.

Investigators are attempting to locate a 20072011 white Ford Edge, most likely SEL or Limited Class, according to the state police release. This vehicle may be missing a passenger side mirror, and have damage to the passenger side headlight area. Anyone with information is asked to contact Troop K, Media Station, at 484-840-1000.

Several lanes of Route 202 were closed for hours as police investigated.

Last week a woman crossing West Chester Pike in Newtown Square was struck and killed and the driver of that vehicle also left the scene.

Police say they have identified the driver of the vehicle, which has been recovered. As of Thursday afternoon, no charges were filed in that case and the investigation was ongoing, according to Willistown police.

It was about 10:45 p.m. Saturday when Willistown police responded to a hitand-run crash that took place in the 5400 block of West Chester Pike in Newtown Square.

The pedestrian was struck and killed while crossing the eastbound lanes of travel. The striking vehicle was described as a newer, compact SUV, possibly a red Ford Explorer. The vehicle fled eastbound on West Chester Pike into Delaware County. The vehicle sustained extensive damage to the driver’s side front.

On Sunday, police received a call from the operator of the vehicle. Subsequently, the vehicle was located and impounded until a search warrant is obtained.

The victim was identified as Rubenia Lemus Cedilla,

28, of Upper Darby. She had just finished working at a nearby restaurant and was crossing West Chester Pike, walking to a bus stop, when she was struck and killed.

The operator’s identity is being withheld until the investigation is complete, the release issued Monday stated.

Anyone with information or may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact Willistown police at 610251-0222.

PHOTOS BY PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A car drives by spots on Route 202 northbound in Concord where a pedestrian was struck and killed Wednesday evening. The driver fled the scene. Above, flowers sit on the spot where a pedestrian was struck and killed on West Chester Pike Saturday evening near the Keikoku restaurant in Edgmont. The driver fled the scene.

PETE BANNAN — DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA A car drives by spot where a pedestrian was struck and killed on northbound Route 202 just north of the Pennsylvania state line Wednesday evening. The driver fled the scene.

PETE BANNAN — DFM Flowers sit on the spot where a pedestrian was struck and killed on West Chester Pike Saturday evening near the Keikoku restaurant. The driver fled the scene.