Dodge Charger Hellcat recovered in Philadelphia after fatal hit-and-run

Philadelphia police recovered a black 2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat on Tuesday in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that killed 29-year-old Talyia Bernice Nesmith in the Eastwick section of Southwest Philadelphia early Monday morning.

Nesmith was exiting a rideshare vehicle around 3:15 a.m. on the 7200 block of Elmwood Avenue when a speeding Dodge Charger Hellcat struck her at high speed. The impact threw her into a nearby parked car, and the driver then struck a second parked vehicle before fleeing the scene. Medics transported Nesmith to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 4:05 a.m.

Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Vanore said investigators tracked the vehicle by first identifying a stolen car report from Northwest Philadelphia filed hours before the crash. Officers traced the Hellcat’s movements after the theft and connected it to the fatal hit-and-run scene. They then tracked the vehicle into Delaware County, where Philadelphia police and Delaware County law enforcement located the black 2019 Dodge Charger Hellcat on Tuesday at Broadway and Oak Avenues in Upper Darby Township and towed it for forensic processing.

A black high-performance Dodge Charger Hellcat sits abandoned in a residential neighborhood at night, forensic markers visible, police vehicles in the background

Vanore confirmed that the Hellcat had been stolen approximately one hour before the fatal crash, making it a key piece of evidence in the investigation. However, no suspect has been identified or arrested, and investigators are continuing to analyze video evidence from the car theft, the recovery, and the hit-and-run incident itself.

Hit-and-run crashes in Eastwick have declined in recent years. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation data, there were nine hit-and-run crashes in Eastwick in 2025, down from 15 in 2023. However, since 2019, nearly 100 hit-and-run crashes have occurred in the neighborhood, resulting in 84 people injured and four deaths, including Nesmith.

A 29-year-old woman's face in a community memorial photo, flowers and candles arranged on a street corner, dawn light, mourners in soft focus

Police are urging the public for any information about the vehicle theft, its recovery, or the hit-and-run itself. Anyone with details can submit an anonymous tip to the Philadelphia Police Department’s tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or visit phillypolice.com/tips. The Crash Investigation Division can also be reached at 215-685-3180.

Sources

Philadelphia Inquirer — The vehicle recovery, the theft timing, victim identification, crash details, and hit-and-run statistics in Eastwick.
Metro Philadelphia — The vehicle recovery location, Deputy Commissioner Vanore’s statement, the victim’s details, and investigation status.

About the author, Chris Martin

Chris Martin is a US economics and current affairs journalist covering the intersection of policy, markets, and everyday financial life. With a background in financial reporting and a sharp eye for the stories behind the numbers, Chris brings clarity to some of the most complex issues shaping the American economy today. At ECIKS.org, Chris covers breaking developments across domestic economic policy, business strategy, Wall Street movements, and political decisions that ripple through financial markets. His reporting blends rigorous data analysis with accessible storytelling making critical information useful for investors, entrepreneurs, and engaged citizens alike.