A Philadelphia man is facing vehicular homicide and other charges related to a hit-and-run crash that killed a 78-year-old grandmother almost three years ago, according to CBS News.
About the Case
On April 15, 2025, members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force arrested Jovan Lowe, 21, on suspicion that he was behind the wheel in the fatal crash on December 28, 2022. Investigators initially issued a warrant for Lowe’s arrest on December. 31, 2022. They have been hunting him ever since.
Officials say Lowe was driving a stolen white Jeep Grand Cherokee when he struck Julia Mae Abraham while she was seated inside a Mercury Mariner. The crash occurred in the 3700 block of Fairmount Avenue in West Philadelphia. Abraham’s Mariner was parked when Lowe allegedly drove the stolen Grand Cherokee into Abraham’s driver’s side door. Abraham succumbed to her injuries shortly thereafter. The police have been hunting for Lowe ever since.
Legal Defenses in Fatal Hit-and-Run Cases
Leaving the scene of an accident is a felony in Pennsylvania when someone involved in the accident suffers severe injuries or dies. Fighting these charges is challenging, but some possible defenses include:
- Mistaken identity – Law enforcement agents sometimes wrongly identify people suspected of fleeing fatal crashes. A hit-and-run defense attorney can challenge the reliability of eyewitness testimony, traffic camera footage, or other evidence linking the accused to the vehicle involved in the collision.
- Lack of knowledge of the accident – Pennsylvania law typically requires prosecutors to show that the driver knew, or should have reasonably known, that an accident occurred for a conviction to occur in these cases. If the crash was minor from the driver’s perspective or they didn’t know they hit someone, the driver’s defense attorney can argue there was no intent to flee.
- Procedural errors or rights violations – If police obtained evidence without a warrant, failed to read the driver their required Miranda warnings, or violated the driver’s constitutional protections during the investigation, the defense can seek to suppress critical evidence. Prosecutors may drop or reduce charges in these cases if they don’t think they can win a conviction.
- Insufficient evidence – The prosecution must prove every element of the alleged crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If the evidence is circumstantial or weak, the defense can argue that the state has not met its burden of proof.
- Emergency or duress – In rare situations, a driver may leave the scene due to an immediate threat to their safety, such as a medical emergency or a genuine fear of harm. A defense attorney can point out this fact as a mitigating factor in the case, which could lead to reduced charges or a less severe sentence.
How a Criminal Defense Lawyer in Philadelphia Can Help
If you have been arrested for hit and run in PA or similar charges, you must contact an experienced defense attorney immediately. A Philadelphia hit-and-run defense lawyer can carefully review the evidence, including police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements, to identify weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. They can also challenge whether the police correctly identified the defendant as the driver, question the accuracy of accident reconstructions, or raise defenses such as lack of knowledge or constitutional rights violations during the investigation. In addition to crafting legal strategies, a skilled defense attorney can negotiate with prosecutors, seek reduced charges or penalties, and advocate for the fairest possible outcome in court.
Attorney Brian Zeiger has over 20 years of experience helping Philadelphia and Pennsylvania residents face tough charges and win. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation if you are facing fatal hit-and-run charges in Pennsylvania.
