PHILADELPHIA — A tragic crash on Roosevelt Boulevard left two dead and another person critically injured on Thursday afternoon in Northeast Philadelphia.

The incident occurred just before 2 p.m. in the 9000 block of East Roosevelt Boulevard, when authorities say a man driving a van in the outer lane lost control, striking two pedestrians before the vehicle overturned and collided with a tree.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, using heavy rescue tools to extricate the driver from the wreckage. Despite their efforts, the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. One pedestrian, later identified as John Reed, also succumbed to his injuries, while the second pedestrian was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

Neighbors described the scene as chaotic and horrifying. “One minute everything is going on, and then the next minute, something unfortunate happens and then it’s all over,” said Ryan Collins, a local resident.

The van involved in the crash was registered to Raymond Arbor Pengate, a Willow Grove-based company specializing in material handling equipment. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

This devastating incident has left the community in shock as officials work to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal accident.