Cheltenham Township Police Department Photo by James Short.
India G. Vera, 23, of the 5200 block of Samson Street, Philadelphia, was sentenced to up to seven years in state prison after admitting to striking and injuring a woman with her vehicle after the two had an argument at a Cheltenham restaurant, according to The Mercury.
An investigation started around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 26 when Cheltenham police were dispatched to the Five Below store in the 2400 block of Cheltenham Avenue to investigate a report of a car striking the store, as well as a female pedestrian, according to court documents.
Upon arrival, police found a Ford Fusion on the sidewalk with heavy front damage, according to the article. The injured pedestrian was lying in bushes at the front of the store and was transported to a local hospital, according to police.
Vera confirmed to police that she was the driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian and admitted that the two had an argument in a nearby restaurant. Vera claimed that after the argument, the victim followed her from the restaurant to the parking lot, where her car was parked, according to police. Vera stated that she quickly tried to drive away for her own safety, but struck the victim with her vehicle instead, according to the affidavit.
According to surveillance video, Vera entered her car and drove towards the victim who was standing on the sidewalk. Vera missed striking the victim and took a turn as if to exit the parking lot, but instead drove over a curb and down an embankment, police alleged. Vera then drove towards the same curb she jumped the first incident and jumped the curb a second time, this time striking the victim.
Vera tried to drive away, but her vehicle was disabled. Vera got out of the vehicle and initially walked away from the scene on foot, according to police.
The victim suffered multiple contusions to her body and a laceration to her ear that required stitches, according to police.
Judge Williams R. Carpenter ordered Vera to complete an anger management program and to have no contact with the victim.
