7-11 Employee Hit and Run (Raw Footage)

*UPDATE* — The woman suspected as being the driver of the hit-run vehicle that blasted into a convenience store worker, sending him through the store window, has turned herself in.

Willaisha S. Rankins, 32, surrendered to police in Yeadon just after noon.

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"That passenger, Tyhese Pitts of Sharon Hill, told police that she and Rankins had been at a bar drinking the evening of June 9 before the crash. The two women got into Rankins' 2007 silver Dodge Caliber and drove to the 7-Eleven on Church Lane to meet up with a male acquaintance of Rankins, the affidavit of probable cause states.

After chatting outside the convenience store, Rankins, Pitts and the male friend got back into the Dodge to leave, the affidavit states. Rankins was driving, Pitts was in the front passenger seat and the male was in the back seat, police said.

As they backed out of the parking lot, the car lurched forward at a high rate of speed, according to court documents. The Dodge struck the employee, who was outside of the store cleaning up, police said. The force of the crash propelled the employee through the front window of the store.

The surveillance footage clearly shows the 2007 silver Dodge Caliber ramming into the store clerk and pushing him through the store window.

The injured employee was initially treated at the scene then transported by Yeadon Fire Co. ambulance to Fitzgerald Mercy Hospital for treatment. His injuries are not life threatening, but he has yet to return to work.

Witnesses of the crash told police that the silver Dodge had fled the scene — after a female passenger got out and walked away, according to court documents. Police checked the area, but were unable to locate the fleeing car or woman who walked away from the crash.

Investigators ran the tag number of the car and it came back registered to Rankins, who resides in the 7000 block of Aberdeen Road in Upper Darby. A check revealed that Rankins has a valid driver's license.

On Wednesday, police received a tip that Rankins' unoccupied car was parked near 54th and Vine streets in Philadelphia. Police found the car with front-end damage that allegedly occurred in the June 9 incident. The car was impounded and processed for evidence.

Splain said police do not anticipate filing charges against Pitts. Charges are not expected to be filed against the man who was in the back seat, police said. "
http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/06/24/news/doc4e03fbc6de3a3989726334.txt