Two Pennsylvania State Troopers and a man were hit and killed next to I-95 in Philadelphia early Monday morning by a woman who had been pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving just minutes earlier.
Troopers Martin F. Mack III, 33, and Branden T. Siska, 29, were on the shoulder helping a man into the back of a cruiser when a woman attempted to drive past three men at high speed just before 1:00 am.
“The impact was so strong that the soldiers were thrown into the northern lanes of Interstate 95,” Pennsylvania State Police Capt. James Kemm said at a press conference, KYW reported.
Witnesses attempted artificial respiration, but all three died at the scene.
The woman who hit them was pulled over on suspicion of drunk driving moments earlier, but officers had to leave her after they received a call about a man walking down the highway.
She remained at the scene, state police said. It is not known if she was detained, but police say they are now investigating the drunk driving case.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Branden T. Siska, 29, died early Monday morning after being hit by a driver suspected of driving under the influence.
Soldier Martin F. Mack III, 33, also died from his injuries after witnesses attempted CPR.
Soldiers were answering a call about a man walking down I-95 in Philadelphia. Above, a police car stands on the highway while the police respond to the accident.
The woman tried to bypass them, but hit all three. Soldiers reportedly stopped her earlier that night, but left when they received a call about a man walking.
Video from WPVI shows a police vehicle moving along the median with airbags deployed.
Nearby was a silver SUV with extensive damage to the front.
Police officers traveled down I-95 North in a procession Monday morning, hours after three men died near the 18th pole.
After the woman hit the men, the car hit the barrier and drove a short distance before coming to a stop on the right shoulder of the highway, authorities said.
Police reportedly stopped a woman on suspicion of drunk driving, but left her behind when they were sent to respond to a man walking down a highway.
It is not clear why he was walking or why he was taken into custody. His name has not been released as the police are trying to contact his family.
Soldier Mack, 33, joined the State Police in November 2014.
He graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 2006 and enrolled at Albright University in Reading, according to WCAU. He was married with two children and lived in the town of Bristol, Bucks County.
Siska, 29, joined the service in February 2021. He graduated from the University of West Chester in 2014.
Both soldiers spent their entire careers with the K Troop Patrol Unit in Philadelphia.
Commissioner Robert Evanchik said: “Our department is heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred early this morning in Philadelphia. We ask our fellow Pennsylvanians not to forget the families of our soldiers and pedestrians.”
Police drove down I-95 on Monday morning, hours after the incident that killed two service members and a detainee.
“Our department is heartbroken by the tragedy that occurred early this morning in Philadelphia,” Commissioner Robert Evanczyk said in a statement.
“We ask our fellow Pennsylvanians to remember our military families and pedestrians. This is an extremely difficult time.”
Governor Tom Wolf ordered that all flags at state and public buildings throughout Pennsylvania be at half-staff before sunset Friday in honor of Mack and Siska.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy that happened while these soldiers were protecting and serving,” Wolf said.
“This unfortunate incident is a stark reminder of the risks and sacrifices our law enforcement officers make every day to keep us safe. My heart goes out to their families and the communities they lived in and served.”
Authorities are not investigating the incident as drunk driving.
“A young driver has the potential to face extremely serious consequences,” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said, according to KYW.