Ambler Teen Charged in Lansdale Hit-and-Run

Lansdale Police believe the driver of a black VW Cabriolet that allegedly hit a vehicle at Main and Broad streets April 15 is Justin Murphy, 19, of the 100 block of South Chestnut Street, Ambler Borough.

Murphy has been arrested, charged and arraigned with misdemeanor accidents involving an occupied vehicle, and summary charges of careless driving and driving the wrong way on a one-way road, according to court records.

Murphy has a preliminary hearing before District Judge Harold Borek in Lansdale on August 15.

Police said they received information the day after the hit-and-run from an Ambler Borough Police officer that he or she recognized the black VW Cabriolet suspect vehicle after seeing a picture of it in the press.

Lansdale Police were asking the public to be on the lookout for a late 1990s to early 2000s model Volkswagen Cabriolet, as it may be the suspect vehicle in an April 15 hit-and-run at Main and Broad streets in Lansdale.

The suspect vehicle's rear window area of the convertible top has a patch or tape on it, as well as silver custom wheels, police said.

The victim was a 53-year-old woman from Harleysville, who was driving a 2003 Chevrolet, police said.

The woman told police she was stopped for a red light, south on N. Broad Street, ready to turn right onto West Main Street, police said.

While waiting for the light to change, a small, black, "rag top" vehicle, occupied by two white males, pulled up next to her vehicle on its driver's side, police said.

When the light turned green, the Volkswagen accelerated in front of her vehicle and began making a right turn, police said.

As the Volkswagen continued forward, it struck the 2003 Chevrolet on the driver's side, causing damage to the front fender, police said.

The driver of the Chevrolet followed the Volkswagen west on West Main Street and then northbound into the Madison Parking Lot, police said.

Upon reaching North Wood Street, the driver of the suspect vehicle turned south onto Wood Street, traveling in the wrong direction on a one-way street to West Main Street, police said. The Volkswagen then turned west onto Main Street again.

Lansdale Police obtained surveillance pictures of the suspect vehicle.