Man arrested in hit-and-run that killed Temple University student in Philadelphia, police say

A suspect in the hit-and-run that killed a Temple University student in June was arrested Thursday, police said.

Derek Reid, 48, was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in connection with the hit-and-run that killed Temple student Bryce Wolfe on June 24 on Kelly Drive. Reid was taken into custody on the 7200 block of Briar Road in West Oak Lane.

Reid was charged with involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and other offenses.

Police said Reid was also wanted on a child sexual abuse warrant issued in April. According to U.S. Marshals, he was charged with rape, sexual assault and corruption of a minor. 

Robert Clark, of the U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force, said they had been tracking Reid for five days before his arrest Thursday morning.

"This is someone who was very transient; he knows the criminal justice system, he knows he's being looked for," says Clark. "In some of our surveillance videos, Mr. Reid is wearing a balaclava, medical masks, a jungle Boonie hat and it was very difficult to get an ID on him."

The hit-and-run happened June 24 around 11:15 p.m. at the intersection of Kelly and Reservoir drives. 

Police said the striking vehicle, believed to be a white 2001-2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer, was heading eastbound on Kelly Drive when it attempted to make an illegal turn onto Reservoir Drive. They said when the turn couldn't be completed, the driver of the SUV returned to Kelly Drive and entered Wolfe's path. Wolfe was driving westbound on a red 2004 Triumph motorcycle, police said. The crash trapped Wolfe underneath the SUV, and he was dragged for more than one mile before he became dislodged. The SUV fled the scene eastbound after the crash, police said.

Wolfe was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center with critical injuries by Philadelphia Fire Department medics, police said. He was pronounced dead at 4:41 a.m. on June 25, according to police. 

Police said investigators found the suspected striking vehicle wanted in the hit-and-run on the 4800 block of Rorer Street in Feltonville on July 9. 

According to his LinkedIn page, Wolfe was enrolled at Temple University's Fox School of Business, where he studied actuarial science. He was also an instructor with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. In a social media post, a colleague said Wolfe was "one of the most respected instructors at MSF."

Lori and Clarence Wolfe said the loss of their son has been excruciating. While they're grateful for the arrest, their hearts remain broken.

"As a mom, all you want is your child back," Lori Wolfe said. "I don't know what the feeling is; I just want my son back."

Wolfe's parents remain determined to keep their son's memory alive.

"Whoever makes the decisions, please, from our hearts, we are begging you to please see this through to the end so that we can get justice for what was done to Bryce," Clarence Wolfe said.

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.