The man charged with killing three people and badly injuring another during a high-speed crash will face upgraded charges.
On Tuesday Pennsylvania prosecutors charged Keith Campbell, 29, of Glasgow, Delaware with murder and homicide by DUI.
Campbell was found with 15 to 20 self-inflicted stab wounds after driving into an SUV in the early morning of Jan. 2, 2019 in South Philadelphia, according to authorities.
Campbell learned that he will be facing three counts of third-degree murder and homicide by DUI during a hearing on his mental-health status.
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Three people were killed early Wednesday morning, January 2, 2019, when a driver from Delaware, suffering from stab wounds, crashed head-on into their vehicle.
The crash occurred just after 1:30, when a white Audi with Delaware plates veered into oncoming traffic and struck an SUV on Packer Avenue in South Philadelphia, according to reports from the scene.
The SUV driver Joseph Ferry, 36; his fiancée and passenger Kelly Wiseley, 35; and passenger Dennis Palandro, 31; all died at the scene. A fourth passenger, Palandro’s 30-year-old wife survived was transported to Jefferson University Hospital for a broken pelvis and other injuries suffered in the accident. She is listed in critical condition.
Philadelphia Police said the driver of the Audi, identified as Keith Campbell, 29, of Glasgow, Delaware, was also transported to the hospital where it was discovered that he was suffering from 15 to 20 stab wounds. Officials said that a knife was found in the vehicle.
Earlier in the morning at 1:12, a member of the Newport (Delaware) Police Department attempted to stop a white Audi on Delaware State Route 4 westbound for erratic driving, according to Newport Police Lieutenant Mark Wohner.
Wohner said the vehicle failed to stop and continued west on Route 4. Thereafter, members of the Delaware State Police Troop 6 joined the pursuit to give assistance. About five minutes into the pursuit, on Interstate 95 northbound, in the area of the Christiana Mall, the fleeing vehicle’s driving became too reckless to continue and endangered the safety of other vehicles, and thus, the Newport and Delaware State Police Troop 6 discontinued the pursuit as the vehicle continued north on Interstate 95, said Wohner.
Wohner went on to say that “Later that morning, the Newport Police Department was notified that a fatal collision occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the vehicle we were pursuing was involved.”
“We have and will continue to assist the Philadelphia Police Department with their investigation.”
The Mummers South Philadelphia String Band, which Ferry and Palandro were members of, posted a statement on their Facebook this morning.
“On behalf of the officers and members of the South Philadelphia String Band, we are deeply saddened at the loss of our family members.
We ask you to keep all families in your thoughts and prayers.
While the Mummers community is a close-knit family, we ask for privacy for the families and our organization during this difficult time.
The South Philadelphia String Band family will be making no further comment.”
Wohner said, “The Newport Police Department sends our condolences to families and friends affected by this tragic collision.”
