Crash kills 2 Philly Mummers; driver may have stabbed self

PHILADELPHIA >> A man with stab wounds that were apparently self-inflicted drove into an SUV early Wednesday, killing three people, including two members of a string band that had competed the day before in Philadelphia’s New Year parade, police said.

Keith Campbell, 29, of Delaware, appeared to have stabbed himself before the wreck about 1:45 a.m. near Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Phillies play. Witnesses told police Campbell crossed the median into opposing traffic while speeding, then struck an SUV carrying four people, killing three of them and critically injuring the fourth.

As of Wednesday afternoon police had been unable to interview Campbell, who was taken to the hospital and remained in critical condition, to confirm his wounds were self-inflicted. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach relatives for comment were unsuccessful.

The three people killed at the scene were identified Wednesday as Joseph Ferry, 36, of Philadelphia; Kelly Wiseley, 35, of Glenolden; and Dennis Palandro, 31, of Morton. Palandro’s wife, who was not named by police, suffered a broken pelvis and other injuries and was in critical condition.

The four were returning home after a party at the South Philadelphia String Band clubhouse, where the two men were band members, a police spokesman said. The band had won second place in its division in Tuesday’s annual New Year’s Day Mummers Parade.

The parade is believed to be the oldest continuously held folk parade in the country and features Mardi Gras-style performers dressed in colorful costumes of sequins and feathers.

The string bands often have generations of families performing together to a themed skit in front of judges who score their songs, costumes and their band captains. It was unclear Wednesday whether Palandro is a relative of the band’s captain, Denny Palandro, who is older than the crash victim with a similar name and serves as publicity director for the Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association.

The South Philly String Band had won second place Tuesday after taking home top honors in 2018.

The band issued a statement on its Facebook page Wednesday saying they are “deeply saddened at the loss of our family members,” and asking for privacy.