Thanksgiving Hit-and-Run in University City Raises Serious Questions About Pedestrian Safety, Reckless Driving, and Repeat Crashes at Nearby Intersections
A tragic Thanksgiving afternoon in University City has renewed urgent questions about pedestrian safety, reckless driving, and the legal stakes for serious hit-and-run crashes in Pennsylvania.
What Happened: A High-Speed Hit-and-Run That Killed a Pedestrian and Injured Another Driver
Philadelphia police say the fatal incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day at the intersection of 36th and Market Streets, a high-traffic corridor near Drexel University.
Investigators determined that 30-year-old Shamir Miller of West Philadelphia was driving a black 2012 Honda Accord eastbound on Market Street when he struck 41-year-old pedestrian Rosa Mar Espinosa Rodas, who was crossing Market Street during her lunch break. Police later confirmed she worked nearby.
The force of the impact was catastrophic. According to Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small, “She was hit with such force, that she was knocked out of both of her sneakers… Her body appears to have been launched and dragged a distance of 200 feet.” Medics pronounced Espinosa Rodas dead at the scene at 3:54 p.m.
Police say Miller continued driving eastbound, then hit a 2013 Buick Lacrosse near 34th Street, injuring the 41-year-old woman inside. She was taken to Penn Presbyterian with neck and back injuries.
Witnesses reported Miller was speeding and driving recklessly, and after the second collision, he attempted to run—police chased him down near 32nd and Market.
He was treated at the hospital for head injuries before being criminally charged.
Chief Inspector Small described the moment plainly: “It’s very, very tragic… the fact that it happened on Thanksgiving Day just makes it that much more of a tragedy.”
Attorney John Rooney notes that the Thanksgiving collision raises three major areas of legal concern: criminal charges, civil claims for the pedestrian and second injured driver, and the special protections Pennsylvania affords pedestrians in crosswalks.
Criminal Charges: Why Prosecutors Moved Quickly
Authorities charged Miller with murder, homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault, reckless driving, and related offenses.
This charging package signals several things about how Pennsylvania treats hit-and-run pedestrian deaths:
Murder and Homicide by Vehicle
In Pennsylvania, a driver can face third-degree murder if prosecutors believe the conduct showed extreme indifference to human life. Excessive speed, reckless operation, and striking a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk can meet that standard.
Homicide by vehicle is also charged when a traffic violation directly causes a death—speeding, running a light, or failing to yield to a pedestrian all qualify.
Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash
Pennsylvania law requires drivers involved in crashes causing injury or death to stop immediately, render aid, and contact police. Fleeing elevates charges dramatically—especially in a fatal collision.
Here, Miller allegedly struck a pedestrian, hit a second car, and attempted to run, making the hit-and-run component central to the case.
Rooney notes that in Philadelphia, pedestrian crashes are treated with extraordinary seriousness, especially in dense pedestrian corridors like University City.
Civil Liability: Pedestrian Wrongful Death and Injury Claims
Beyond the criminal case, the crash creates significant civil exposure:
Wrongful Death & Survival Actions
The family of Rosa Mar Espinosa Rodas may pursue wrongful death damages for:
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Funeral and burial costs
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Lost earnings and financial support
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Loss of companionship
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Pain and suffering (through a Survival Action)
Pedestrians in PA have broad legal protections, especially when crossing legally in a crosswalk. Drivers must yield, control speed, and maintain awareness—even in heavy traffic.
Attorney John Rooney emphasizes that when a driver is speeding or ignoring signals, liability is often clear-cut.
Injury Claims for the Second Driver
The 41-year-old Buick driver who suffered neck and back injuries has a clear negligence claim involving:
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Excessive speed
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Failure to stop
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Hit-and-run flight
She may recover a settlement for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage.
The Larger Issue: A Second Deadly Hit-and-Run at a Nearby Intersection in One Week
This Thanksgiving crash occurred just steps from another fatal hit-and-run on November 20, in which 48-year-old Meaza Brown was struck and killed at 33rd and Market by a speeding Chrysler 300 that ran a red light.
Residents immediately noted the disturbing pattern. One witness told NBC10, “It’s not the first time something like that happened around here… people need to pay attention more.”
According to attorney John Rooney, from a legal and community-safety standpoint, having two deadly pedestrian crashes within a few block, within one week, raises several urgent questions:
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Is visibility adequate at 33rd–36th and Market?
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Are drivers consistently speeding through this corridor?
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Should the city review signal timing, signage, and crosswalk protection?
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Are additional traffic-calming measures overdue?
When multiple fatal pedestrian crashes occur at the same intersection, attorneys often examine whether infrastructure contributed to the danger, and whether the city failed to mitigate a known hazard.
Final Thoughts From Attorney John Rooney
This Thanksgiving tragedy is a vivid example of how quickly reckless driving can destroy lives—especially in dense pedestrian zones where people are crossing daily for work, school, and transit.
The criminal charges reflect the severity of the conduct, but the civil implications are equally significant for the families impacted. And with two deadly pedestrian crashes in one week in the same area, University City’s traffic safety issues can no longer be ignored.
If this pattern continues, Philadelphia may need to consider stronger enforcement, redesigned crossings, and improved visibility to prevent future heartbreak on Market Street.
