A fiery crash in Northeast Philadelphia claimed the lives of three people early Sunday morning.
Police said a driver and two passengers were traveling in a black Chevrolet Camaro northbound on Torresdale Avenue toward Rhawn Street, in Holmesburg, just after 2:40 a.m. when the driver lost control of the car, careened into the oncoming traffic lane, and crashed head-on into a parked tractor-trailer.
Witnesses to the crash called 9-1-1, and when police arrived at the scene, they found both the Camaro and the tractor-trailer in flames, NBC10's Matt DeLucia reported.
A witness to the crash who sprung into action in an attempt to free the people trapped in the burning car told NBC10 that he smashed the passenger window, but couldn't get inside.
"Before I knew it, the entire car was engulfed in flames. There was nothing I could have done," the man said, holding back tears. "I just want the families to know, of whoever these victims are, this close to Christmas, that I tried. I tried to do everything I could to get them out of that vehicle. I tried. And I'm sorry that I couldn't."
Police at the scene said it appeared that speed played a factor in the deadly crash, and that the car went airborne over the crest of a hill near the intersection of Rhawn Street and Torresdale Avenue.
All three people in the Camaro died at the scene, police said. No one was in the tractor-trailer at the time of the crash.
Officers remained at the scene investigating the crash late Sunday morning and said the intersection would likely be closed several hours as hazmat crews clean up herbicide that spilled from the tractor-trailer. Police said the leaked herbicide does not pose a threat to anyone in the area.
"With the holidays coming up, it's a tragic loss of life, and for what?" Philadelphia Police Capt. Anthony Ginaldi said at the scene.
Police have not yet identified the victims, who include two young women.
Photo Credit: NBC10
