Police this week were searching for a hit-and-run driver who contributed to last week’s death of Darlene Gaston, an African-American lesbian from West Philadelphia. The suspect remains at-large as of presstime, police say.
On March 14, Gaston, 58, was attempting to cross the street at the intersection of 49th Street and Lancaster Avenue in the Mill Creek section when she was struck by a white Mitsubishi. Shortly after, another vehicle also hit her.
It happened around 8:18 p.m. March 14 and police say the Mitsubishi was speeding. The vehicle was discovered by police about two miles away, abandoned by the driver.
The impact of the crash sent Gaston into oncoming traffic and she was hit by a second vehicle. Medics pronounced her dead at 8:20 p.m. March 14 at the accident scene. She lived on the 6200 block of Addison Street with her wife of 20 years.
The driver of the second vehicle remained at the scene. The person isn’t being charged with a crime, police say.
Police say the driver of the Mitsubishi continued driving and crashed into a pole near the 2000 block of Belmont Avenue in Fairmount Park, about two miles from the original hit-and-run scene. Then, the driver fled the scene of the pole-crash scene.
Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told the media the damaged Mitsubishi was towed and searched for fingerprints and DNA evidence. Small also said a witness was able to positively identify the Mitsubishi as the first vehicle that struck Gaston.
“I just can’t believe this,” the victim’s daughter Ebony Fleming, told the media. “She didn’t deserve this.”
Gaston had just completed work for the day as a delivery person and went to the deli on the corner of 49th Street and Lancaster Avenue to purchase some food before attempting to go home.
“Darlene Gaston was a loving mother,” her eldest son, Travis Gaston, told the media. “How do you take a whole life and flee the scene? That don’t sit right with me.”
Asa Khalif, a member of the District Attorney’s Office’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee, expressed sympathy for the Gaston family. “My condolences to the Gaston family,” Khalif told PGN. “I’m keeping them all in my prayers during this difficult time. I’m pleading with the driver to turn themselves in and take responsibility for taking such a precious life.”
Police say the incident isn’t being investigated as an intentional homicide. It’s being handled as an accidental vehicular homicide.
Police released this narrative of the incident:
“On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 8:18 P.M., a fatal auto-pedestrian crash occurred at 49th Street and Lancaster Avenue. On Lancaster Avenue, a white Mitsubishi was traveling westbound when it collided with a pedestrian, sending the pedestrian into oncoming traffic. The pedestrian was struck by a gold Nissan traveling eastbound on Lancaster Avenue. The Nissan’s driver remained at the scene. Medics responded to the scene and pronounced the pedestrian dead at 8:20 p.m. 58-year-old Darlene Gaston was identified as the victim. The Mitsubishi driver fled westbound on Lancaster Avenue. Shortly thereafter, the Mitsubishi was found unoccupied at Belmont Mansion Drive and Belmont Avenue. The investigation is active and ongoing with the Crash Investigation Division.”
Anyone with information about the incident may call the Crash Investigation Division at 215-685-3180, or leave an anonymous tip at 215-686-TIPS.
The District Attorney’s Office issued this statement: “The DA’s Office urges anyone who has information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the driver or individuals responsible for Darlene Gaston’s death on 3/14/2023 to contact Philadelphia Police by calling 911 or 215-686-TIPS (8477). The PPD Crash Investigation Division has recovered the white Mitsubishi that is believed to have struck Gaston at a high rate of speed, starting a sequence of events that resulted in a tragic loss of life. The DA’s Office LGBTQ+ Liaison and CARES Team will be working with Gaston’s loved ones to offer affirming support and services, as our office does following every homicide, regardless of whether an arrest has been made by police. The DA’s Office and DAO LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee extend our deepest condolences to Darlene Gaston’s loved ones, as our Homicide assistant district attorneys work collaboratively with [police] to help identify the individual(s) responsible so that they can be held accountable in a court of law.”
A description of the suspect wasn’t available, as of presstime.