Two drivers arrested in separate wrecks that killed one, injured one

Police have arrested two drivers in unrelated accidents that left an aspiring art student dead last summer and a Temple University senior critically injured last month.

Capt. John Wilczynski, commander of the accident investigation division, said today that Erica Zanczuk, 30, of Morrell Park, was arrested in the death last summer of Justin Reidy, 22.

Reidy was standing on the sidewalk, waiting for a bus, on Academy Road near the Northeast Airport just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 1 when Zanczuk lost control of her speeding 1997 Nissan Pathfinder, jumped the curb, hit Reidy and then slammed into a utility pole, knocking it to the ground, police said. Reidy died at the scene, and investigators at the time suspected drunk-driving.

Zanczuk was charged with driving under the influence, involuntary manslaughter, homicide by vehicle and related offenses, Wilczynski said .

According to an obituary, Reidy was an Elizabeth, N.J., native who planned to go to art school and dreamed of being a professional artist.

In the second case, investigators locked up Rashan "Robert" Roberts, 18, of North Philly, for a hit-and-run accident that critically injured a Temple student.

Rachel Hall, 22, was pedaling her bicycle on Diamond Street near Park Avenue just after 7 p.m. on April 29 when Roberts, who was driving his father's 2012 silver Mitsubishi, allegedly hit her and sped away, police said. The collision threw Hall into the road, causing severe head injuries. She remains in Temple University Hospital in serious condition. Roberts, who had a learner's permit but not a license, later told investigators he "panicked" and left the scene.

Roberts was charged with leaving the scene of an accident. "Had [Roberts] stopped, there probably would be no charges," Wilczynski said.

Hall, a Mullica Hill, N.J., native, was studying criminal justice at Temple and would have graduated tomorrow. She played on the school's lacrosse team as its goaltender. Her family has created a Facebook page to update well-wishers on her condition; earlier this week, her mother wrote that she hadn't regained consciousness since the accident.

"As of today, the blood has stopped bleeding into Rachel's brain which is great news!" her mother wrote on Monday. "We are hoping Rachel's own body can repair the dissected carotid artery in her neck. Rachel has developed a slight case of pneumonia. Rachel is still unconscious, unresponsive, on a ventilator, and black and blue from the bruising. Every time I hold her hand I hope she will squeeze back, still waiting."

Philly has seen a recent rash of hit-and-run accidents, including two last month that claimed the lives of Abdul Latif Wilson, 4, and David Alicea, 2.