Pedestrian killed along Route 100
Hit-and-run: Authorities seek driver of pickup that fled scene Walking to job: Victim attempting to get to work at Wendy’s
POTTSTOWN >> A crash March 3 has left a pedestrian dead and police searching for the driver of a vehicle that fled the scene.
Pottstown Police responded to a report of a pedestrian struck on Route 100 southbound just before the intersection of Shoemaker Road around 7:54 p.m., according to a press release issued the following day by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Upon arrival, police found Donald Purnell, 24, of Pottstown, dead at the scene. Purnell had been walking to his 8 p.m. shift at the nearby Wendy’s fastfood restaurant when he was struck by a vehicle, police said.
The investigation and witness interviews led investigators to believe that a dark-colored pickup truck travelling south on Route 100 struck Purnell at highway speed and immediately fled the scene. The pickup truck was last seen heading south on Route 100 toward King Street. Police said the vehicle should have frontend damage from the impact.
Following the initial crash, the victim was struck again by a second vehicle, the driver of which had not seen the victim lying on the road. The driver, who was not identified by police, stopped the vehicle immediately and remained on scene until police arrived. Police said the driver cooperated with police during the investigation.
Authorities are asking the public to assist them in the investigation. Police are requesting that anyone who witnessed Purnell being struck, was present immediately afterward or has information on the vehicle or driver who first struck Purnell to contact Pottstown Police at 610-9706570. The joint investigation is being handled by Pottstown Police and Montgomery County Detectives.
Purnell’s family also created a GoFundMe page to help with the costs of a funeral and burial. The page had reached $1,725 of its $7,500 goal in just the first two hours it was posted.