Teen driver to be charged in death of Swarthmore College professor

A Collingdale teen will be charged with vehicular homicide and related charges after, police said, he was driving under the influence of marijuana when a Swarthmore professor was struck and killed while riding a bike in Upper Darby Township on Dec. 3, 2025.

On Tuesday, Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse announces that homicide by vehicle, driving without a license, DUI and related offenses were approved against Kali Poole, 18, of Collingdale, following a crash that occurred on Dec. 3, 2025, at West Providence Road and East Penn Pines Boulevard in Upper Darby Township.

In this crash, police claim, Poole was driving with a learner’s permit and, allegedly, had marijuana in his system when he struck and killed 39-year-old Eduard “Teddy” Einstein, a professor in the Mathematics and Statistics Department at Swarthmore College.

According to police, the crash happened when Poole, who only had a learner’s permit, was driving alone along Providence Road when he attempted to make a left turn, striking Einstein, who was riding a bike along a marked bike lane.

“This is a tragedy- an utterly preventable loss of life. The victim acted lawfully and responsibly, while the defendant made the deliberate choice to drive while high and without a license. These decisions had irreversible consequences that I hope our entire community will take note of. Driving under the influence puts lives at risk. Plain and simple. Our office is committed to holding the defendant fully accountable and to seeking justice for the victim and his family.” said District Attorney Tanner Rouse in a statement on the incident.

After the crash, officials claim, blood testing revealed that Poole was under the influence of marijuana at the time the crash occurred.

A warrant has been issued for Poole’s arrest and, officials said, an investigation is ongoing.

The Delaware County District Attorney’s Office is asking anyone who may have more information on this incident to contact Sergeant Daniel Connell of the Upper Darby Police Department at 610-734-7686.