Press Release: Unauthorized Pop-Up Car Rally

October 16, 2022

Press Release

Unauthorized Pop-Up Car Rally

 

On October 16, 2022 at 12:34 am approximately 150-200 vehicles arrived at the first level parking lot of the Willow Grove Park Mall as part of an unauthorized pop-up car rally.  Some of the attendees drove recklessly during the rally, revving engines, and skidding tires.  When the Abington Township Police Department responded to the area, the participants of the rally fled mall property while officers remained on location to ensure that all participants left the area.  Many of the participants continued south on Route 611, utilizing the northbound and southbound lanes. Shortly after, police received a call for an accident at Old Welsh Rd and Fitzwatertown Rd involving a vehicle that is believed to had recently left the rally.  Upon arriving, officers observed that the striking vehicle had struck several parked and unattended vehicles.  The striking vehicle came to a rest in the middle of the 2900 block of Old Welsh Rd with severe damage. The back seat passenger was ejected from the vehicle and the driver and front seat passenger were extricated with the assistance of responding police and fire personnel.  All three of the occupants were transported via ambulance to Jefferson Abington Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  Although this is still an on-going investigation, speed is believed to be a contributing factor. Abington Police will be working with our law enforcement partners to investigate this incident to identify those who organized and participated.  Unsafe events like this will not be tolerated and anyone identified will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to please contact Abington Township Police Detective Robert Hill at 267-536-1101 or rhilljr@AbingtonPA.gov

CRIMINAL CHARGES, AND ANY DISCUSSION THEREFORE, ARE MERELY ALLEGATIONS AND ALL DEFENDANTS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL AND UNLESS PROVEN GUILTY.

Approved for Release by:

Chief Patrick Molloy

Pmolloy@abingtopa.gov