Temple student killed by hit-and-run driver remembered as full of promise: 'made you want to be a better person'

Bryce Wolfe was “so full of life and enthusiasm and intellect and promise,” and it was apparent even as a high schooler when he joined a mountain bike team based in Danville, Pa., said David Decoteau, one of his coaches for the Central Susquehanna Hammers.

“All I can really say about Bryce is that he was one of those rare young people that you meet and walk away from the conversation thinking, ‘I’m not worried about the future. We are going to be fine with guys like this involved,’” Decoteau, 63, said in an interview.

“He was one of those people that made you want to be a better person,” Decoteau said.

On Saturday, Decoteau will be attending the 20-year-old’s funeral.

Bryce, who had just completed his sophomore year at Temple University, was riding his red 2004 Triumph motorcycle on Kelly Drive the night of June 24 when he was struck by a white SUV making an illegal turn onto Reservoir Drive, near the Strawberry Mansion Bridge, Philadelphia police said.

His body became lodged under the SUV and he was dragged for more than a mile, police said. He died at the hospital the next day.

The driver of the SUV fled the scene and remains at large.

Police on Tuesday released surveillance images of the SUV suspected in Bryce’s death. Investigators believe the SUV is 2001-08 Chevrolet Trailblazer, possibly with damage on the driver’s side with possible red paint transfer, a broken rear windshield, and a discolored passenger-side front wheel.

A memorial service for Bryce is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Krapf and Hughes Funeral Home, 530 West Butler Dr., Drums, Luzerne County. A visitation period will be held from 5 p.m. until the time of the service.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Bryce’s family.

In an obituary written by Lori Wolfe and Clarence Wolfe III, his parents, Bryce was described as having lived his life “with a fearless spirit of adventure and a genuine love for the outdoors.”

Bryce “found joy in seeking new challenges and embraced every opportunity to experience the world to its fullest. Whether carving down snow-covered slopes while skiing, exploring miles of trails on his bicycle, or riding motorcycles through rugged dirt tracks and open roads, he felt most alive when he was in motion,” his parents wrote.

Bryce, who was from Conyngham, a borough in Luzerne County, had recently started a summer internship and wanted something he could ride around while he stayed in Philadelphia, his mother said in an interview.

“It was the first motorcycle he bought and insured all by himself,” Lori Wolfe said about her son’s Triumph.

Temple University president John Fry said last week that Bryce, an actuarial science major in the Fox School of Business, recently started an underwriting internship with United States Liability Insurance Group.

In a statement, the company said Bryce “was a quick learner who approached every opportunity with enthusiasm and curiosity, always asking for additional responsibilities and eager to take on new challenges.”

USLI added: “In the short time we were fortunate to know him, Bryce left a lasting impression through his kindness, initiative, and the relationships he built with those around him. He will be deeply missed by his teammates and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Bryce was also a member of the student professional organization Gamma Iota Sigma, the professional fraternity for risk management, insurance, and actuarial science.

He “had quickly established a reputation as both an excellent student and engaged member of the Temple community,” maintaining a high grade-point average while being enrolled in both Temple and Fox Honors program, Fry said.

Bryce was the middle sibling of two brothers, 18-year-old Brayden and 22-year-old Tyler. Lori Wolfe said Bryce was particularly close to his older brother, who has Down syndrome.

Bryce and Tyler were able to participate in track and field together because of an inclusive “Unified” sports program at Hazleton Area High School that was recognized in late 2023 by the Special Olympics.

In a speech to the high school during the recognition ceremony in January 2024, Bryce explained that he and his brother had difficulty finding clubs and activities they could do together.

Thanks to the school district’s Unified sports program, “dozens of students just like my brother and I are able to compete together as equals, marking a truly revolutionary moment in Hazleton area’s history,” Bryce said in his senior-year speech, which was posted on YouTube.

“Some of you may not know it, but every one of you has contributed to the culture and atmosphere here in Hazleton, which the Special Olympics has honored us for today,” Bryce said.

“This banner, proudly displayed in our gymnasium, will serve as a powerful symbol of Hazleton’s commitment to inclusivity for all visiting fans and athletes to see,” he said.

Decoteau, Wolfe’s mountain-bike coach, said the Hammers team plans to rename a trail where they rode together as a team in Wolfe’s memory.

The team also is working to establish a scholarship inspired by Wolfe’s “dream of helping kids be involved in mountain biking become a reality,” Decoteau said.

“It’s a terrible loss and tragedy. I will miss him,” Decoteau said.