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Polina Kadiyska, 22, was crossing Broad Street in the crosswalk at Ellsworth Street when a 1999 green Audi A4 traveling north on the 1100 block of South Broad is believed to have sped through the red light at 3:50 a.m. Sunday and struck her and then three unattended parked vehicles on the east side of the street, according to the Police Public Affairs Unit. The car’s driver, Deandre Barnes, of the 700 block of McKean Street, and a male passenger allegedly fled the scene, but returned a short while later to retrieve items from the car.
Barnes, who turned 19 Saturday, was then arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated assault, accidents involving death or personal injury, driving under the influence, aggravated assault by a vehicle while driving under the influence, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and three counts of criminal mischief. His passenger was not charged.
Kadiyska, a dancer at The Rock School, 1101 S. Broad St., was transported to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in critical condition and placed in the intensive care unit. The school’s directors, along with staff members and dancers, stayed with her until her family arrived from Bulgaria at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a post on The Rock School’s tumblr blog.
The resident of the 1100 block of South Broad Street was pronounced dead at 11:32 a.m. Tuesday, police said.
Barnes’ charges were not upgraded at press time. He is scheduled to appear in court April 3, according to court records. He remains in jail as bail was set at $1 million Monday.
Kadiyska moved from Bulgaria to study at the Passyunk Square school about three years ago.
“Polina was a beautiful dancer on her way to a wonderful professional career. … Our hearts and love go out to Polina and her family. She was a beautiful person in every way,” the blog post read.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
28043647
