Driver, 18, killed by PA State Police on I-95 after hitting 2 troopers

Bucks County Courier Times
Updated ·2 min read
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An 18-year-old man from Delaware County was shot and killed by police after hitting two Pennsylvania State Police troopers on Interstate 95 near Penn's Landing overnight.

Anthony Allegrini Jr., of Glen Mills, was pronounced dead on the scene by Philadelphia Fire Department Medics. The troopers suffered minor injuries, police said.

Authorities said Sunday two troopers were struck around 3:30 a.m. when Allegrini's vehicle failed to yield when police found a large group of cars blocking the busy highway when they responded to reports of street racing. One trooper discharged his service pistol and struck Allegrini, state police said in a news release.

Upon arrival of I-95, troopers "found a significant number of vehicles illegally blocking the roadway, with others doing “burnouts” and “drifting”, and numerous pedestrians outside of their vehicles spectating." Authorities were also aware of reports of shots being fired before they arrived to I-95.

The southbound lanes of the interstate were closed to traffic early Sunday as police investigated but reopened later in the morning.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and the state police are investigating.

Earlier in the evening, the state police were also called to assist with street racing in the city.

The Fraternal Order of Police Philadelphia Lodge #5 released a statement Sunday.

"Once again, our great city of Philadelphia was under siege by criminal activity involving illegal street racing .. Another weekend of Philadelphia and state police officers putting themselves in danger to curb this criminal behavior," it read, in part.

The statement said the department remains understaffed "to adequately address the chaos."

The president of FOP Lodge #5, John McNesby, told reporters that illegal street racing occurred in Mayfair and Bustleton on Saturday night as well as on I-95. McNesby said in one incident an officer had a brick thrown through her windshield, which left her shaken but not seriously injured, according to the Associated Press.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Driver, 18, killed by PA State Police on I-95 after hitting 2 troopers