Troopers Martin Mack, 33, (left) and Branden Sisca, 29, were responding to a man walking along the highway at night when a driver fatally struck all three men. (Pennsylvania State Police)
Two Pennsylvania state troopers and a civilian were killed in a crash on a highway in South Philadelphia early Monday, state police said.
The crash took place at 12:45 a.m. in the southbound lanes of I-95, just before the sports stadiums.
At a press conference Monday, state police said Troopers Martin Mack, 33, and Branden Sisca, 29, were responding to a man walking along the highway. While attempting to place the man into the back of their cruiser, officials said, a person trying to drive past the scene at a high rate of speed struck all three men.
State police said the force of the crash threw troopers into the northbound lanes of I-95. Officials said that witnesses attempted to perform CPR, but Mack and Sisca were pronounced dead on the scene.
Officials have yet to identify the civilian killed, pending notification of next of kin.
State police said the driver who struck the three men remained on the scene. The driver was not identified.
Col. Robert Evanchick, speaking outside Trooper K headquarters, said the department is “heartbroken” following the tragedy.
Gov. Tom Wolf extended his condolences to the families of those killed and called Monday a “sad day for Pennsylvania.”
“There are three families mourning the loss of loved ones,” Wolf said, adding that the fatal incident was a stark reminder of the “risks and sacrifices our law enforcement officers take.”
Mack enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2014. Sisca enlisted in February of last year. Both served the Philly area under the Patrol Section of Troop K.
Officials did not take further questions, citing the ongoing investigation.