display and exchange gifts. then around 7 o'clock they left this house headed over to matthew's house to pick up some clothes for a sleepover but he never made it. >> sweet little boy. played with all neighborhood kids. it's tragic, very tragic. >> reporter: 10-year-old matthew mccloskey didn't see the quickly approaching police car as he started crossing route 47. his friends saw it coming and tried to call him back. moments later a chilling call on police radio. >> just involved in a car accident with a pedestrian. >> reporter: that was the voice of patrolman nicholas localento. the franklin township administrator said he had been responding to a urgent call. the prosecutor is investigating. witnesses say the police car did not have its lights or siren activated. investigators were back on the scene today taking measurements and looking for surveillance videoly matt was the youngest of four children. he was in fifth grade at ritter elementary. the kids are off on break but

the school will be opened wednesday morning to make grieve counselors available. his family didn't want to appear on camera today but matt's grandmother says he aspired to become a police officer some day. he even attended police camp over the summer. neighbors and family friends erected a roadside memorial to today still stunned by their sudden loss. >> shocked. just shocked. couldn't have happened at a worse time. kids are off from school enjoying their holiday break and that had to happen. just tragic. >> reporter: now the franklin township police chief had no comment today. the township issued a statement last night saying that the officer who has been on the force for a little over a year was badly shaken up and they are standing beside him. that roadside memorial growing behind me here and just an awful, awful situation for everybody involved. live in franklinville david henry, channel6 "action news." monica. >> all right david thank

you. witnesses say a driver who fled police died in a crash with another vehicle this afternoon in delaware county. this happened at 4 o'clock in the 100 block of south chester pike in glenolden. a parked car was also damaged on impact. police have not said why they tried to pull over that driver who died in the crash. flames shooting from the engine of an airplane, this was an unnerving sight for passengers on a u.s. airways express flight bound for new hampshire. the plane was forced to turn around and make an emergency landing at philadelphia international airport this morning. kenneth moton live on the "action news" satellite center with reaction from passengers. hi kenneth. >> hi, monica, 20 minutes that's how long passengers say it took for them to make that emergency landing after seeing those flames and the terrifying incident started about five minutes after takeoff. it was an engine failure caught on camera, flames shooting out in spurts from this u.s. airways express jet shortly after takeoff from philadelphia international airport around 10:00 a.m.

>> it was a big bang and fire was out the window. >> we looked out of the right side and we didn't know if it was the flaps going up and down. >> reporter: the plane operated by republic airlines bound for manchester new hampshire had four crew members and 75 passengers on board including kim her husband who is a pilot and their son. >> the worst part was when they kept trying restart the engine and it kept doing the same thing over and over again and the plane kept shaking. that was the worst part. no one knew what was going on. >> reporter: terrifying but passengers say the pilot kept control, that was the fast and immediately turned the plane around after they reported the engine problem to phl. an aviation expert told "action news" it appears the right engine had what's called a compressor stall which means the air flow was disrupted and the engine backfired. greg heard and felt it inside his essington delaware county business. >> it was almost like an earthquake, loud rumble, very loud rumble multiple actually.

it was one fairly close and another one as it went further away. it was really bad. >> emergency aircraft landing two-seven left. the number two engine is out. >> reporter: the plane was able to land safely at phl as passengers and crew boarded another aircraft and continued on. >> do you feel bonded to these people a bit. >> a little bit yes. we all went through passengers together. >> reporter: those passengers relieved to make it to their final destination manchester regional airport in new hampshire. republic airlines says this incident is under investigation and mechanics are working thon engine mon today. reporting live in the satellite center this evening kenneth moton channel6 "action news." >> thank you kenneth. a berks county family is grieving tonight after a three alarm fire claimed the lives of their beloved parents. intense flames broke out at a home in the 500 block of spruce street in reading last night. when it was finally out the body of 87-year-old pedro

morass left lane and his wife were found if the bedroom. multiple agencies are still working to pinpoint the cause. a charter school in north philadelphia will shutter its doors this weekend. now parents are scrambling to find new schools for their children to attend. live at the walter palmer charter school is "action news" reporter vernon odom. wednesday is the school's last day of operations, isn't it? >> reporter: indeed, mon today. the walter palmer school's revered and respected by many are no more. at the middle of this week for 640 families that's a real problem during this holiday season. with schools scheduled to reopen in a week. teachers from the now deaf punter walter palmer charter school were packing up and moving out for good today. the cash strapped school has finally drowned in financial woes to the tune of over $13 million of debt. formal word of the shutdown came over the weekend via letter from founder and chairman walter palmer who has not been available to

reporters. what was left of the palmer charter empire k through eight has struggled for months to balance the books in the midst of court rules and enrollment and overbilling disputes with the school district. the palmer high school shut down in october in a sea of red now the school's as he sets will be liquidated to pay down the debt. >> the board of directors for the walter d. palmer school has asked me to facilitate a liquidation and disillusion of the school. >> reporter: palmer school officials say they've been undermined by the school district. >> i wouldn't say necessarily sabotage. what i'm saying is that they want those kids back. that will fill their holes. those gaps, those deficits that they have. >> reporter: more than 600 students are going have to be placed in other schools. the school district said pants can do that online through a dedicated web site or by coming to district headquarters on wednesday or friday morning of this week or 9:00 5oo on monday or go direct to their neighborhood school to enroll on monday. >> we'll get students enrolled immediately even without the

records because we believe it's important that they are back in school. >> reporter: late today school parents and caretakers gathered to condemn the abrupt closing and express concern about the transition process. >> the charter school office and the school district have been very unhelpful with my process. they don't give me any information. they have no information. they're very nasty to us. >> reporter: parents struggling to get their children a better education. live in north philadelphia, vernon odom, channel6 "action news." >> thank you vernon. drivers in ocean county are pinching themselves tonight after filling up the tank for $1.95 a gallon. folks were texting and calling their friends to get the deep discount at one gas station. as new jersey correspondent nora muchanic reports the low prices are like to roll into the new year. >> reporter: cars lined up 10 deep on this gas station on route 70 in brick that's where gas is selling for $1.95 a

gallon the lowest price in new jersey. >> it's like christmas. they're giving gas away. i'm surprised. >> reporter: when you see $1.95 a gallon, what did you think? >> got to fill up. >> like the old days. >> reporter: you have to use a credit or debit card here. they don't take cash. >> it's the lowest around. i even posted on facebook with my friends you got to come here, you don't have to be a costco member to get itism tom used to pay $200 to fill up his motor home. today he came in at half that. >> it's the first time in years that it's been under hundred dollars. >> reporter: how does that feel? >> feels great. i love it. man, i'll tell you i wish it could be like this all the time. >> reporter: plummeting gas prices turned out to be a welcome christmas presenter for families traveling for the holidays and the good news is it's possible that prices may go down even more. the oil price information service says there's a glut of oil and less demand which will drive the price of jet fuel, diesel heating oil and gasoline lower in 2015.

>> the second half of the year we might see some numbers that we've ruled out and we thought we wouldn't see again. $1.50, $1.60, $1.70 a gallon. it's going to be cheap gasoline next year. >> reporter: estimates cheaper prices will translate into $120 billion worth of extra disposable income for consumers nationwide. how does it feel to pay $1.95 for a gallon of gas. >> my good gnomes i'm 70 years old and i haven't paid $1.95 since -- i can't tell you how long it's been. >> reporter: which makes it a whole lot less painful when it's time to fill up. in brick i'm nora muchanic, channel6 "action news." >> coming up on "action news" tonight, the mummers putting the finishing touches on their routines and costumes for their new year's day parade. and instead of preparing for the post season, eagles players spent the day cleaning out their lockers. ducis rodgers with that ahead in sports. cecily. >> temperatures in the 50's this weekend much we cool off to 48 degrees today but i'm tracking much colder air on the way. i'll have all the details in the accuweather forecast.

>> allall right those stories and more when "action news" continues for you in just a moment. >> snoatle >> ♪♪

>> philadelphia police officers were injured on the scene of this early morning fire in the frankford section. investigators say a car exploded in the garage of a home here in the 1100 block of arrott street. a piece of metal bumper went flying about 100 feet striking both officers. one suffered a broken leg, the other had multiple cuts. philadelphia police close out the year with a vote of confidence from the local lawmaker. state representative w. curtis thomas commended local men and women in blue today. he said in light of the tensions in missouri and new

york it's important to show gratitude to those who serve with integrity and bravery. he also voiced support for what he calls sensible policing reforms like the expansion of advisory committees. musicians and dancers are strutting and playing during final practices for the mummers day parade on thursday. it's always exciting as the costumes and routines come together. let's go live to "action news" reporter sarah bloomquist in south philadelphia where the fralinger's string band is getting ready for the event. >> reporter: the mummers parade fast approach getting down to the nitty-gritty here. we're down in a warehouse in south philadelphia, the back of it where the fralinger's string band members have been working long hours getting their props ready for the big parade. there are changes to the parade this year. but one thing stays the same, they all what happened to win and doing all they can to make it happen. it wouldn't be a mummers parade without glitter lots of glitter and this afternoon members of the fralinger's string band got the glitter

going as they get the props ready for this year's parade. >> a lot of last minute details that's really what we're down to now is just last minute things, touchups. our show is do. you look at little things and you say oh we can add this, we can add that. >> reporter: their sawing drilling and still finding times to rehearse for a routine that's months and months in the making. >> i'm exhausted. the two hours of sleep a flight for the past couple months isn't cutting it anymore. so, you know, a couple more days left and we'll be good to go. >> every year the same thing we build all this, we do a show we break it down, we start again next year. >> reporter: so much the same but this year's parade is going in a different direction. literally. the shortened parade starts at city hall and ends at broad and washington. >> don't like it no. >> no. >> reporter: you get the ready talking to brian gifford that not every mummer likes this new route. >> it should go up broad street. it should be in south philadelphia. >> reporter: fralinger captain scott ray has a different take. the mummers are a tradition but he thinks it's time for a

change. >> i like it i-do. i mean, it's -- something had to be done. whether this is the answer we don't know. we'll find out this year. >> reporter: so, the parade route is shorter and going in a different direction. that doesn't mean there is any less work for the mummers now working around the clock to get ready. live in south philadelphia, i'm sarah bloomquist, channel6 "action news." monica. >> sarah thanks. and our broadcast partner phl17 is the home of the mummers, the only place you can watch the parade live this new year's day. if you're not headed out to the parade itself you can still catch full coverage starting thursday morning at 8:00 a.m. on phl17. >> ♪♪

>> time for sports. ducis here and our eagles are packing it in. >> they're going separate ways for the winter. a lost questions surrounding the eagles. also some holes to fill following this unfulfilling season. jeff skversky was with the birds this morning as they packed it in for the next few months.

>> measured by one thing you win a super bowl or not win a super bowl. >> reporter: after another season without a super bowl the eagles are packing up for the off seasonally eagles coach chip kelly will spend countless hours trying to figure out how to improve his team by any means necessary. >> you take a look at anything and everything you can to -- our goal is to win this thing and to do that you have to look at everything. >> reporter: the biggest decision kelly and the eagles have to make is at quarterback. but kelly is not ready to name a starter for next season. he says will he evaluate every single throw nick foles made this year before his season endy ending injury, the good, the bad and the ugly. >> i expect to be back here. i expect to be the quarterback. i love my teammates. i expected to be back out there leading them and winning some games. >> reporter: despite 13 turnovers foles led them to six wins in eight starts before breaking his collarbone and in two years under kelly he's 14 and four overall. >> it's coming if my heart. that's what i really expect to be in.

i'm going work towards -- work as hard as i can this off season come back and be its best nick foles possible. >> he fires and it is complete to celek for a touchdown. >> reporter: mark sanchez wants to be back, too. he'll be a free agent in march so the eagles have a lot to figure out in the new year. jeff skversky, channel6 "action news". >> it's black monday in the nfl. the day coaches are fired. the jets axed rex ryan, falcons axed mike smith and bears dismissed mark tress man. jim harbaugh and the 49ers agreed to part weighs. harbaugh expected to be named the head coach at his alma mater michigan sometime tomorrow. college football playoffs get under way this week. it's the first ofs its kind. both semifinal games are thursday on espn. oregon faces florida state in the rose bowl. alabama and ohio state meet later that night in the sugar bowl. flyers in arizona to face the coyotes and they have their top goalie back. steve mason is expected to

start. he's been skating with the team the past couple days and his back issue is better. mason who has missed the past four games said yesterday that he was still working on getting back into game shape. >> the biggest thing i think is just the sharpness the puck off the stick. yesterday i got a good sense of my movement. didn't really get to play blank shots. didn't have practice for today with the full practice. guys coming in shooting to score. i had a good practice. >> it will be good to have him back between the pipes. >> all right thank you diesis. and of course be sure to take 6abc.com with you wherever you go. the smart design changes the layout to fit any device you have no matter how small or large the screen. check it out by visiting 6abc.com any time anywhere. >> ♪♪

>> time foreign accuweather. couldn't last forever. we have been loving this warmer weather. >> nice and mild temperatures are beginning to drop but it's a very brief cold shot. it's here for about two days. >> and then we warm up again. >> we can handle that. storm track live double scan showing that we have rain free conditions out there this evening and the action cam taking a look in washington square. seeing blue skies some high thin cirrus clouds today and temperature in the upper 40's so very comfortable. the accuweather highlight shows that you yes we're enjoying a dose of december warmth. however, reality will be here right in time for the new year. but the past week temperatures running close to 13 degrees above normal and this december we only had a tenth of an inch of snow. that was on december 11th. so, we're basically in a snow

drought. however, temperatures really drop and the winds will be picking up as we head towards new year's eve and new year's day you can see around lunchtime we're looking at the wind chills will be in the 20's. so, it's definitely going to feel like winter on wednesday and thursday. today, though, still pretty mild. the weekend temperatures were in the 50, no the quite that warm but our high today 48 degrees. that's 7 degrees above normal. record highs 72. the record low 1 degree below zero. the sun setting at 4:44. now that the winter solstice has passed our days are beginning to get a little bit longer and it's leading to some really beautiful sun sets. lisa posted this on my facebook page from elverson, pennsylvania. some beautiful light some beautiful colors in the sky and notice you can see it is winter since there are no leaves on the trees and this is my favorite photo sent in on my facebook page tonight from joe hammonton, new jersey and with some of those high thin cirrus clouds we're

getting good reflection, refraction of the reds and the yellows of the wave length of the sun setting so really pretty photos. keep them coming on my facebook page. right now in philadelphia, 42 degrees. in allentown 33 with clear skies. millville 35. dover 40 and the poconos 28 degrees. they'll be making snow at the ski resorts in the poconos tonight. satellite6 showing the front that brought us the clouds and drizzle yesterday that's moved off shore and then you see this clearing sky above the northern plains. that's thanks to very strong dominant high pressure and what this high pressure will do as it moves in, it will bring us cold conditions but dry conditions, so wednesday 2 o'clock we're looking at temperatures only in the 30's but factor in the breeze, wind chills will be in the low 20's so you definitely do want to bundle up if you're celebrating new year's eve. mostly clear skies at 6 o'clock for the five works for the little ones. 31 degrees by midnight

28 degrees. wind chill right ooh around 20 degrees as you bring in the new year but it will be dry and it will be mostly clear so really good viewing for the fireworks. for the next 12 hours tonight more clouds south of philadelphia, more stars to the north and north of philadelphia temperature will be dropping down into the 20's. 26 degrees. philadelphia dropping down to 31 degrees. so seasonably chilly. the exclusive accuweather 7-day forecast tomorrow partly sunny skies more sun to the north, more clouds to the south. temperatures cooler than today, 40 degrees. that's seasonable. wednesday is when you'll really feel the difference in the air mass, the high only 34 degrees. wind chills will be in the low 20's. it will be dry with partly sunny skies to mostly sunny skies and thursday new year's day 38 degrees. the mummers parade bundle up. wind chills again will be in the 20's. heading into friday, milder air returns. morning sun increasing clouds, a high of 42 degrees. on saturday it clouds up, 44 degrees. saturday evening and overnight some rain will move in north of philadelphia especially

across the poconos. could begin as brief icing. changes over to all rain by sunday morning. it's out of here by the afternoon, 47 degrees and monday seasonably cold with a high of 40 degrees so dry until we head to the weekend. temperatures little bit of a rollercoaster the next week. >> all right thank you cecily. finally meticulous planning and preparation will result in twice the fun this new year's eve in philadelphia. crews packed two barges full of fireworks today at the navy yard. this year's sugar house casino is offering two chances to watch the which are full explosives light up the sky and ring in 2015. families can choose between a 6:00 p.m. or midnight show, both of them free. abc's world news tonight with david muir is next here on channel 6. "action news" on channel phl17 with boone taft sir lien allicott and ducis rodgers then we'll back at 11:00. have a great night. >> ♪♪

welcome to "world news tonight." breaking news. the dispeeshs of air asia flight 8 8501. 162 people on board. families waiting in anguish. and the family that didn't get on the plane, telling their story tonight. high seas rescue. hundreds of passengers saved from a deadly fire on board a crowded ferry. survivors describe the panic to escape the inferno. the flu. now a nationwide epidemic. 22 states reporting high levels of illness linked to the deadly virus. and fast and furp use. brazen groups of defiant drivers taking over highways across america. innocent people at risk. traffic stopped for miles. who is really in control of the roads?