A University of Pennsylvania graduate student struck by a car while walking down the street before being thrown from a 38-foot high University City bridge died overnight. The 27-year-old man had only arrived at the school a few days prior.

• Caught on Camera: Public sex, urination by teens after wild block party

Zachary Woods, of Monroe, N.Y., suffered extremely serious injuries in the crash that took place before 10 a.m. along an elevated portion of Walnut Street at 30th. He was walking along the southern sidewalk when a blue 2005 Mercury Montego ran a red light at high speed and broadsided a red 2011 Toyota Camry, police said. The impact had such force that it sent the Mercury sedan careening in the man's direction.

Trying to avoid being hit, officials said Woods jumped onto a traffic light pole, but the pole was directly in the path of the car. The sedan hit the pole and the man and sent them flying off the bridge to the ground 38 feet below, police said.

The car hit the cement wall behind the man and pole so hard indentations of the wheels were left behind, police said.

• EARLIER COVERAGE: Freak Car Crash Sends Pedestrian Plunging 38 Feet

Woods was rushed to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in extremely critical condition. Police say he died late Tuesday night.

On Wednesday, flowers marked a small memorial at the crash site honoring Woods' memory.

Fellow students tell NBC10.com that the victim recently joined Penn's prestigious Lauder Institute at the Wharton Business School to study international business.

"So everyone is very concerned. I know he's a first year and he just arrived probably this week and it's the second day of class," said Paul Baek, a student at Penn. He said the school was set to host a welcome party for students on Tuesday night.

Woods' Facebook page says he moved to Philadelphia on May 4 and previously lived in China. A short biography posted on the website for his former employer, the New York City Regional Center, said he helped with water treatment in rural Chinese villages.

In a statement posted to the school's Twitter account, Wharton School officials said they "are deeply saddened by the tragic loss" and that they "express condolences to his family and friends."

The crash remains under investigation by Philadelphia Police. The 43-year-old driver of the Mercury sedan, which police say ran the light, was also critically hurt. He remains in critical condition. Police have yet to say whether they plan to file charges in the crash.

The driver of the Toyota, a 69-year-old man, suffered minor injuries.

PHOTO: View from SkyForce10 shows the scene of the crash and where the man landed on street below.

• Man With 7 Prior DUIs Pleads Guilty to Fatal Crash

A man who was arrested for DUI over a dozen times was sentenced on Wednesday for striking and killing a motorcyclist while driving drunk.

• Business Owner Accuses Local Union of Bullying, Intimidation

Last month Robert Landis, 50, pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, reckless endangerment and a slew of driving and alcohol charges. On Wednesday he was sentenced to eight to 17 years in prison. 

On April 26, 2013, Landis struck and killed 24-year-old Liam Crowley in Westtown Township. Landis was driving his 2004 Dodge Ram when he turned his vehicle into oncoming traffic at Wilmington Pike (State Route 202) and Stanton Avenue.

Crowley's motorcycle, which was going straight, was struck by Landis' pickup at the intersection.

Landis told police the motorcycle "came out of nowhere," according to an affidavit obtained by NBC10.

"Liam Crowley would be alive today if Robert Landis had not blatantly disobeyed our laws," said Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department Chief Brenda Bernot. "But Landis has demonstrated that he does not care about others and his incredibly selfish acts on April 26 took the life of a young man with so much potential."

• READ: The Entire affidavit of probable cause

Officials say Landis was driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.28 -- three times the legal limit. Before the fatal crash, Landis already had seven DUI arrests on his record and five convictions.

"Getting behind the wheel of a pickup truck at night on the highway with this much alcohol in your system is like firing a 5,000 pound bullet into a crowd of people," said Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan.

Police say Landis had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol as he slurred his speech following the crash.

Landis told police he only had "a couple of beers." Investigators say they found numerous empty and full beer cans in his pickup.

An investigation showed that Landis -- who was living with his mother -- was also driving on a suspended license. His mother Louise Landis, 85, was charged in July of 2012 with fraudulently registering Landis' pickup in her name.

According to court records, Landis pleaded guilty to five previous DUIs and was entered into an alcohol treatment program two other times -- dating all the way back to a 1981 arrest -- before the deadly crash. Hogan says Landis would have been eligible to drive as of 2012 if he had filled out proper paperwork.

Under state law, the minimum sentence Landis will serve for killing Crowley is three years. Crowley's parents are working with Hogan to increase the minimum sentence for vehicular homicide while driving under the influence to seven years for people convicted of three or more DUIs.

"There are no words I can find that adequately describe what I'm feeling," said Diane Crowley, Liam's mother. "Unless we all begin right now to make changes then there is a ridiculously strong chance that someone you love will be hurt or killed by a drunk driver."

State Senator John Rafferty says he will sponsor legislation for stiffer prison time for repeat DUI offenders.

• Money Needed to Open Kensington Grocery Co-Op

Take a deep breath, count to ten and sign up for that yoga class. According to a new study by a popular real estate website, we’re under a lot of stress.

• Out of Control Party Spills Into Neighborhood

Philadelphia was named the ninth most stressed out city in the country by Movoto.com. Two cities in New Jersey also made the list, with Newark at number 8 and Jersey City at number 5.

Here is the full list:

1. Washington, DC
2. New York, NY
3. Miami, FL
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Jersey City, NJ
6. Oakland, CA
7. Chicago, IL
8. Newark, NJ
9. Philadelphia, PA
10. Los Angeles, CA

Movoto weighed in several factors when creating their list, including commute time, unemployment, cost of living, crime and hours worked. The website cited Philly’s high population density and long commute time as reasons for the stress.

Hang in there Philly. If the yoga doesn’t work, you could always utter the immortal words of Dr. Buddy Rydell.

Check out the Movoto article for more information on their study.

• Money Needed to Open Kensington Grocery Co-Op

A local business developer and restaurant owner is speaking out, after claiming he now fears for his safety due to alleged bullying from a local union.

• AC Boys & Girls Club Shuts Down for the Summer

Ken Weinstein, owner of the Trolley Car Diner in Mount Airy, told NBC10 that members of the Electrical Union IBEW Local 98 show up to his business nearly every day to bully and intimidate him.

“At one point they made personal threats to me and my family,” Weinstein said.

Weinstein claims the alleged bullying began after he started renovating the former Saint Peters Church in Germantown in order to turn it into a private school.

“We bid out the electrical work to three contractors, one of which was a union contractor,” he said. “They did not get the job so IBEW showed up at the diner.”

Weinstein says union members began to protest outside his business. During one incident, Weinstein claims he went outside along with his 12-year-old son to make peace with the protesters.

“When we went outside to serve them donuts and coffee, one of the protesters responded by saying, ‘we know where you live and we’ll visit you,’” Weinstein said.

Weinstein says he immediately filed a police complaint and investigators took down the personal information of the protesters. No one was ever arrested or charged for the alleged threat however.

NBC10 reached out to IBEW Local. John Dougherty, the business manager of the union, released the following statement:

"Ken Weinstein is a greedy profiteer. IBEW Local 98 is conducting a peaceful, lawful protest at his businesses because he is violating area wages and benefit standards…   Weinstein is a fraud and has been put on legal notice to cease and desist with his lies about Local 98."

Weinstein insists that he’s telling the truth about the alleged threats.

“When you’re not looking closely they block the drive way and stop traffic from coming down Germantown Avenue,” he said. “We have called the police a number of times when we believed that the unions have crossed the line and the police have responded with citations.”

Weinstein claims it all stems from his initial decision to not hire the union contractor.

“I think John Dougherty and IBEW are trying to harass and bully me into hiring their friends and relatives instead of local residents of Northwest Philadelphia,’ he said.

The Union insists the members never threatened Weinstein and have not done anything illegal.

A man is in the hospital after police say he was shot during a carjacking in North Philadelphia.

• Caught on Cam: Gunmen Rob Philly Nail Salon, Beauty Store

Police say the 26-year-old man was driving a 2012 or 2013 red Dodge Durango on 21st and York Streets early Wednesday evening when he was approached by an unidentified gunman.

• 17-Year-Old Shot, Killed

Investigators say the gunman robbed the man of an unknown amount of cash, shot him in the back and then stole his car. After the shooting, the victim ran into a nearby corner store and called for help. He was taken to the hospital where he is currently in critical condition.

Despite being in critical, investigators say the man is expected to survive. Police plan on interviewing him once he is stabilized in order to get a description of the suspect.

If you have any information on this incident, please call Philadelphia Police.

Police are on the hunt for armed robbers who targeted a nail salon and beauty supply store in Philadelphia.

• Local Union Accused of Intimidation, Bullying

Investigators say the suspects entered the Mayfair Nail Salon on the 4200 block of Cottman Avenue in the Tacony section of the city at 7:19 p.m. back on May 2. Two of the three men were armed with handguns, according to police.

• Man Randomly Attacks Teen Girl in Center City: Police

Surveillance video captures two of the men walking from table to table taking money and cellphones from employees and customers. Police say the third suspect stood by the door and acted as a lookout. They also say he prevented a woman and child from leaving the salon at one point.

The three men then fled the scene on foot after stealing three cellphones and an unknown amount of cash, according to investigators. They were last seen fleeing south on Erdrick Street then east through an alley.

The first suspect is described as a dark-skinned man between the ages of 25 and 27, weighing 200 pounds, wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants.

The second suspect is described as a 20-year-old man, standing 5-foot-7 and wearing all black clothing.

The third suspect is described as a thin man wearing all black clothing.

Police suspect two of the three men also robbed the Wild and Crazy Beauty store on the 4300 block of North Broad Street in the Hunting Park section of the city back on May 5. Police say two men, one armed with a handgun, entered the store at 3 p.m.

According to investigators, one suspect pointed a handgun at an employee and demanded money from the cash registers while the other went behind the counter and emptied the money into a white plastic bag.

Investigators say the two men fled the scene on foot after stealing $310 in cash.

The first suspect is described as a stocky man in his mid to late 20’s with a beard, standing 6-feet. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, faded blue jeans, a red baseball cap with a Miami Heat logo and brown boots.

The second suspect is described as a dark-skinned man in his mid to late 20’s with a goatee, wearing a dark-colored zip-up hooded sweatshirt with a red Polo horse emblem, faded blue jeans, black sneakers and dark sunglasses.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of any of these suspects, please call Philadelphia Police.

 

• Man Randomly Attacks Teen Girl, Woman in Center City: Police

Police say a young boy was killed and his pregnant mother injured during a pit bull attack in Delaware.

• Gunmen Rob Philly Nail Salon, Beauty Store

Investigators say the 4-year-old Camden, Delaware boy and his 24-year-old mother were visiting her friend on the 900 block of Edwardsville Road around 4 p.m. on Wednesday in Felton, Delaware.

The mother, who is several months pregnant, and her friend were inside the home while the boy was playing outside in the yard. Investigators say the friend’s three pit bulls were also in the yard.

According to police, the boy had been around the dogs several times in the past without incident. 

As he was playing, police say the dogs suddenly attacked the boy. The mother immediately ran outside to save her son while her friend called 911. As she tried to save him, the mother was bitten several times on both arms.

Police say two repairmen working at the house also tried to save the young child and help the mother.

EMS and Delaware State Troopers soon responded to the scene and immediately began first aid on the boy. The child was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The boy’s mother was taken to Kent General Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries.

The three pit bulls were removed from the home by the SPCA. Police say the status of the dogs is unknown at this time.

Officials have not yet revealed the name of the young boy pending notification of next of kin. They continue to investigate the incident.

• Distracted Driving Played a Role in Woman's Death: Police

Only two days after she was struck by a stray bullet while sitting outside her home, an anti-violence activist joined her friends and family for a rally for peace in Wilmington, Delaware.

"I just thank God that I'm still here," said 56-year-old Cherry Allen.

• Teen Arrested for SUV, SEPTA Train Collision

On Monday, around 5:30 p.m., Allen was sitting on her steps with her grandchildren on the 400 block of W. 25th Street in Wilmington when two unidentified gunman opened fire on another person at the intersection of W. 25th and N. Madison streets.

Allen was struck in the chest during the shooting. Investigators don’t believe she was the intended target. No one else was injured.

Investigators say the two gunmen fled the scene. They have not yet released a description of the suspects.

Allen was taken to Christiana Hospital where she underwent a successful surgery. She was later released from the hospital and was back in her neighborhood on Wednesday.

Allen, along with the Wilmington Peacekeepers, a group she helped started, returned to the scene of the shooting for an anti-violence rally.

In spite of what happened to her, Allen was not vengeful and instead said it was time for young people to put down their weapons and strive for peace.

The suspects in the shooting remain on the loose.

If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call Wilmington Police.

• Local Union Accused of Bullying, Intimidation

One of the area’s busiest roads will get a much needed makeover starting next week.
On Monday, May 12, a $2.8 million project to repair and resurface nearly five miles of Route 1 (City Ave) in Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township will begin.

• Boy Killed, Pregnant Mom Hurt During Pit Bull Attack

PennDOT officials say the project will be the first to make use of the state’s new transportation funding. Earlier this year, Governor Tom Corbett announced that more than $2.1 billion in highway and bridge projects would begin in 2014 through Act 89, the state’s new transportation funding law.

The project is financed with 100 percent state funds from Act 89, which PennDOT officials say has increased their construction budget by $600 million.

• READ: Detailed Summary of Act 89

According to PennDOT spokesman Charles Metzger, the stretch of City Avenue wasn’t initially on the list for re-paving. That soon changed however after the brutal winter littered the road with potholes, causing headaches and plenty of flat tires for thousands of drivers.

“It’s horrific,” said Jameela Bynum of Overbrook. “Weaving in and out, trying not to have an accident or cause an accident and miss a pothole.”

Through the project, travel will be improved between Haverford Avenue and the bridge over the Schuylkill River. Crews will repair the road base, remove the deteriorated riding surface, and repave the road with fresh asphalt. The project will also include new pavement markings and new curb ramps at four intersections.

Drivers should expect lane closures and slowdowns during construction, which will take place on weeknights from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. and weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bynum says the construction delays and lane closures are prices she’s willing to pay for better roads.

“I think we’ll have to put up with a little discomfort to get a safe traveling road,” she said.

The resurfacing of City Avenue is expected to finish in August while all improvements are scheduled for completion in June of 2015.
 

A 3-year-old girl was critically injured after a bed fell on her in a New Jersey home where she and two other toddlers were left alone Wednesday, police said. 

Police say the girl was unresponsive when officers responded to the home on North Munn Avenue around 10:45 a.m. She is in critical condition.

Authorities found her and two other kids, ages 1 to 2, home alone.

Police say their babysitter left them, but it wasn't clear for how long.

A trash incinerator is likely to blame for a fire that forced dozens of families out of their West Philadelphia high-rise overnight.

• 141-Foot "TRUMP" to Adorn High-Rise

The flames broke out around midnight inside the middle building of the Westpark Apartments at 300 W Busti Street.

The building quickly filled with smoke as residents rushed out of the 19-story building as fire alarms went off.

• Repair Project Set for Pothole-Plagued Road

"You could hardly see down the hallway -- it was really smoky," said resident Barry Hyman. "I put my shirt over my mouth, hit the stairwell and boogied on down."

One person was treated on scene for smoke inhalation and another was taken to the hospital for an asthma attack, according to firefighters.

After about one hour, firefighters had the blaze under control.

• One Hurt in High-Rise Blaze

Though the Philadelphia Fire Department didn’t release an official cause, firefighters on scene said that the fire appeared to have started inside a fire incinerator in the basement. Smoke then rose up and spread into hallways because of open trash chute doors.

The building caters to families and features units ranging from one to four bedrooms, according to the Philadelphia Housing Authority.

• Veteran Sent to Prison on His 90th Birthday

A report of a suspicious person put Dover Air Force Base on lockdown this morning. The lockdown was lifted as of 2:40 p.m. 

The military base located off Route 1 in Central Delaware was put on alert around 11 a.m. as a precautionary measure, according to the 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs.

"The safety of our people is our top priority," said 436th Airlift Wing vice wing commander Col. Randy Huiss. "We take this report very seriously and are taking the necessary precautions to investigate this matter."

• Burner Phone Leads to Man's Arrest

Dover Police said that knew of the lockdown but weren't involved in the investigation. The specific details for the lockdown was not made known, but officials said they were looking for a suspicious person. 

• Police Chief Accidentally Shot Himself

No reports of any injuries.

No people were allowed on or off the base as the lockdown continued. When NBC10 Delaware Bureau chief Tim Furlong arrived shortly before noon, cars backed up at the entrance causing some people to even turn around and leave.

Furlong said that any visitors to the base and their vehicles are normally subjected to extensive security searches.

The largest collegiate rowing competition in the country returns to the shores and waters of the Schuylkill River this weekend and that means a major thoroughfare will be closed to motorists.

• Store's Rooster Rules

The Kelly Drive through Fairmount Park is the major closure for the 2014 Dad Vail Regatta.

• "Sizzling Like Bacon" Hazing

A 1-1/2 mile stretch of Kelly Drive was closed at 10 a.m. Thursday and will remain closed between Strawberry Mansion Drive and Fountain Green Drive until the regatta wraps up around 8 p.m. Saturday.

• Flooding Damage Cancels Regatta

Entrance to the regatta zone is by permit only so all other traffic will be detoured onto other routes including Strawberry Mansion, Fountain Green and Reservoir Drives.

Expect potential delays on other Schuylkill River arteries like the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) and the Martin Luther King Drive the next few days.

Click here to track the latest traffic on NBC10.com.

Dog owners in Philly could soon face fines for leaving their dogs outside during extreme heat or severe cold. 

• Boy Killed, Pregnant Mom Hurt in Pit Bull Attack

"The bottom line is that if you own a dog or you own a puppy, bring your dog in the house when it’s extremely cold outside, bring your dog in the house when it’s extremely hot outside," said Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson.

• Judges Rule on Herpes Suit Between Exes

Johnson, a self-described "animal lover" who owns a Cane Curso named Sasha Blu, said phone calls from his 2nd District constituents in Center City, South and Southwest Philadelphia led him to draft Bill No. 140080. The bill would make it illegal to tie or chain a pet or animal outside during extreme weather.

• What Sent a 90-Year-Old WWII Vet to Jail?

"It will provide a level of fine but also bring awareness to make sure that people who own pets -- specifically dogs, puppies, and in some cases, other animals -- making sure that they’re taking care of them,” Johnson told NBC10.com.

The bill, which is set to be discussed Thursday by the Committee on Licenses and Inspections, includes a measure allowing fines for anyone who leaves a pet outside when the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or above 85 degrees or in extreme weather conditions like sleet, snow and or wind that could threaten the health or safety of the animal.

The bill excludes taking the animal outside for brief walks or exercise in sub-zero or extreme heat conditions. It does however include animals left in doghouses.

“We want to make sure that we take care of our animal’s welfare,” Johnson said.

Dogs and cats cannot cool down or keep warm the way a person can, and are more susceptible to the elements, according to the SPCA.

“It’s really detrimental to their health,” said Pennsylvania SPCA spokeswoman Sarah Eremes. “You can actually see animals pass away.”

Last year, Eremes said the PSPCA received more than 200 calls alleging animal cruelty due to animals left out in high heat or deep cold for hours at a time.

“In the wintertime, sometimes those dog houses can serve as coolers, and some people don’t realize that,” said Eremes. “In the summertime having an animal chained up inside of a doghouse can actually serve as an oven.”

Johnson’s bill still needs to pass through committee before it is put up for council vote.

Animal advocates applauded the bill but there is some concern that it could lead to unnecessary regulation.

“It won’t be over-regulation, more importantly it will also provide a level of information and awareness to this very, very critical and important issue,” said Johnson.

“We’re in favor of any type of legislation that would keep our animals in our city safer or healthier,” said Eremes.

Johnson said the plan is to warn pet owners before issuing fines. He didn’t disclose the amount of the penalty.

Eremes said all pet owners should be certain to give their animals extra water and shade anytime they take the animal outside on extreme days.

A good rule to follow is that if it’s too hot or cold for you to be outside than it is probably too hot for your pet as well.

Contact Dan Stamm at 610.668.5565, daniel.stamm@nbcuni.com or follow @DanStamm on Twitter.