Teen charged with murder after crash that killed motorcyclist in Philadelphia, DA says

PHILADLEPHIA (CBS) — A 17-year-old faces 11 charges, including third-degree murder, after driving the stolen vehicle that hit and killed a motorcyclist Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, District Attorney Larry Krasner said.

Bryce Neely was driving the stolen car that struck and killed Wilberto Casillas, 55, on North Front Street around 8 p.m. Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Anthony Voci said at a news conference Wednesday. Neely was charged with eight felonies, including vehicular homicide, fleeing and eluding a police officer and theft.

The cases of other teens who were in the car at the time of the crash are in juvenile court, Krasner said, meaning he can't release information about them. Neely's case is being tried in adult court because it involves homicide, Krasner said.

Krasner said he has been in contact with members of Casillas' family, who are “devastated.”

Family remembers Casillas: “To know him is to have a family”

Friends and family gathered Wednesday to pick up the pieces after the crash that police say killed Casillas. Police said he was riding a Harvey Davidson motorcycle on Hunting Park Avenue when he was struck by the stolen car.

“He's going to be missed by so many people, so many people,” said family friend Emerald Martez.

Police pursued the teenagers and took them all into custody.

“It was crazy the way it happened,” said Maria Torres, Casillas’ sister. “No one expected that.”

It is an unexpected loss for those who knew Casillas, who leaves behind grandchildren and five children.

“He was a husband, a father, a grandfather,” Torres said. “He was an uncle, a brother.”

Torres said Casillas was passionate about motorcycles.

He owned his own auto shop and garage less than a mile from the accident, but she said his main concern had always been his family.

“These teenagers don’t realize the mistake they’re making when they do reckless things,” Torres said. “They just didn't hurt or kill a single person. They killed an entire family.”

Among the debris left at the scene, his necklace was found, giving his family something to remember him by.

“To know him is to have a family,” Martez said.