Charges Filed In Parking Lot Death Of Delco 6-Year-Old Girl

UPPER DARBY, PA — A man is facing felony homicide by vehicle charges after allegedly striking and killing a 6-year-old girl in a Delaware County parking lot while under the influence of alcohol, police said.

Upper Darby Police said Darin Forrest, 53, of Lansdowne, has been charged with felony homicide by vehicle, homicide by vehicle while DUI, involuntary manslaughter, DUI, and traffic related crimes in connection with the death of Jennifer Portillo, 6, on March 1.

Forrest was arrested Tuesday morning and held on 10 percent of $1 million bail, court records show.

He is slated for a preliminary hearing on May 20, according to court documents.

Police said Forrest, who has cooperated with police during the investigation into the death, had a .106 blood alcohol content the day of the incident.

Forrest told police had drinks at the Waterford Inn at 6825 Ludlow St. then drove to Rudy's Tavern at 7160 Marshall Road.

Police said as Forrest was backing up into a spot at Rudy's, he ran over Portillo, who later died at a hospital.

Police said they have not had interactions with Forrest before.

Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said in a press conference Tuesday that he wants to shut both the Waterford Inn and Rudy's down, citing consistent problems such as fights at the watering holes.

Chitwood said each establishment's owners are nice people but called the bars "toilets" due to their respective customer bases.