The crash scene off Route 1 in Bensalem is horrific. A mangled guard rail, sheared off light pole and car parts scattered everywhere. Police say it's a miracle two out of the three young people in the one-car even survived.
"Described as some of the worst wreckage we've seen in a long time," Public Safety Director Fred Harran said.
One woman was killed, the driver and a female front seat passenger are in critical condition. They were ejected from the 2000 Volvo as it rolled over several times and crashed at a high rate of speed. A woman passenger in the back seat was pinned inside and killed. The car caught fire. Investigators believe this carnage was the result of illegal drag racing.
"They get that straight away going up into Middletown Township and they open up and see how fast they can go," Harran explained. "This one opened up a little too much and lost control."
Drivers who travel this stretch of Route 1 everyday say traffic and speed are always dangerous factors here even without the drag racing element to this crash.
"This stretch of road is very unsafe to begin with. I see people passing and flying and not paying attention," driver Joe Baker said. "It's a travesty to see something like that happen."
Police are searching several local gas station surveillance cameras along the highway, looking for video of a second car in this tragic racing accident. They hope to identify the second vehicle, believed to be a white Ford Crown Victoria. Both drivers could face charges after police sort this all out. Harran says this should serve as a reminder to young drivers.
"Made a bad decision in one second and now someone's dead because of that bad decision," he added.
"It's shame something like that happened and it's sad to see stuff like that still goes on," Baker said.
Investigators don't believe alcohol or drugs played a part in the crash at this point. They will await toxicology tests on the driver before ruling anything out. Police say an off-duty officer witnessed the drag racing and crash. They still have not released the names of the victims in this crash.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:08 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:08:36 GMT
Police in Lancaster say they've detained two men in an investigation prompted by a woman's call to 911 from the trunk of a car to report that she had been abducted by strangers.
Police in Lancaster say they've detained two men in an investigation prompted by a woman's call to 911 from the trunk of a car to report that she had been abducted by strangers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:59 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:59:26 GMT
A man was critically injured Tuesday in New Castle by an explosion that happened while he opened an antique army ammunition box he picked up from his neighbors trash.
A man was critically injured Tuesday in New Castle by an explosion that happened while he opened an antique army ammunition box he picked up from his neighbors trash.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:37 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:37:43 GMT
Helmeted rescue workers race to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives.
Helmeted rescue workers race to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:01 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:01:25 GMT
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Police sources say the two incidents now under investigation took place at Houston Hall, a student center and lecture hall, on Spruce Street in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania campus.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 3:02 PM EDT2013-05-21 19:02:17 GMT
The death penalty could be the eventual reality for the drug kingpin convicted of killing 12 people. Kaboni Savage's sentencing hearings began Tuesday. While prosecutors claim that a prison isn't going
Sentencing hearings began Tuesday for drug kingpin Kaboni Savage.
