A woman was arrested and officially charged with driving through a crowd of Eagles fans in North Philadelphia on Sunday and injuring several people, police said. Rebekah DeShields, 26, of Narberth, Pennsylvania, is charged with aggravated assault, driving without a license, simple assault, reckless driving, and other related offenses. The incident took place at around 9:30 p.m. on January 26, 2025, as a group of people were celebrating at North Broad and Spring Garden streets following the Eagles’ victory over the Washington Commanders.
Eyewitnesses described a scene of celebration turning into chaos as a silver 2018 Mercedes-Benz driven by DeShields crashed into the crowd, causing several people to be hospitalized with minor injuries and fractures. “Everybody dancing, getting along,” one witness recounted to NBC Philadelphia. “Next thing you know, a car coming down and it’s speeding and it hit 10 people.”
Another witness mentioned that an argument seemed to have triggered the incident, with the driver initially on the sidewalk before driving straight into the crowd and hitting around 30 individuals. Video footage obtained by NBC Philadelphia depicted the harrowing moment when the vehicle struck multiple people in the crowd.
The crash was part of a series of violent events that unfolded in Philadelphia that night as fans celebrated the Eagles’ upcoming Super Bowl appearance. Aside from the car crash, there were reports of shootings, stabbings, and attacks on police officers in the city. The chaos and mayhem marred what should have been a joyous occasion for football fans in Philadelphia.
As details of the legal proceedings against DeShields are yet to be revealed, the aftermath of the incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise in large gatherings, even in moments of jubilation and celebration. The city is left grappling with the aftermath of the night’s events, preparing for a potentially even larger celebration after the upcoming Super Bowl game.