A 37-year-old man in Philadelphia faces murder charges after allegedly striking a woman with his SUV in a hit-and-run that killed her. The incident sent the victim flying 20 feet into the air, knocking off her sneakers and jewelry. Police identified the suspect following the November 2024 crash.
On November 1, 2024, at approximately 2:15 a.m., a black Nissan Murano struck 43-year-old Veronica Herling as she crossed Levick Street in Philadelphia's 4800 block. The impact propelled her 20 feet into the air, causing her to land about a block away, where she was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators noted that her sneakers and some jewelry were dislodged during the collision.
Charles Edward Wright, 37, is accused of driving the vehicle, which bore a temporary Virginia state paper tag. Police described the suspect as a Black male with a beard and mustache. After the crash, the SUV turned from Levick Street and headed south on Torresdale Avenue. Authorities released a grainy photo of the driver during their search.
Wright faces charges including murder, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, and recklessly endangering another person, according to court records. He had a preliminary arraignment on a Wednesday prior to March 5, 2026, and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on March 23.
The area near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, about a mile away, has seen speeding issues. Local resident Chanalle Allison told WPVI that drivers coming off the bridge, where the speed limit is 40 mph, often fail to slow to 25 mph on Levick Street. "They keep going straight and they fly," she said. "Probably like 10 cars in one year got smacked right there at the same spot."
Philadelphia police announced the fatality the following month and identified Herling as the victim.