PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Police Department and the Citizens Crime Commission are renewing their appeal for public assistance in solving a fatal hit-and-run cold case that claimed the life of a beloved community member two decades ago.
Last Friday, January 9, 2026, marked 20 years since Sister Paul Mercedes Perreca, IHM, was struck and killed while walking to church. Despite the passage of time, investigators remain committed to identifying the driver responsible and providing closure to Sister Paul Perreca’s family, friends, and former students.
Sister Paul Mercedes Perreca was a prominent figure in the local community, serving as a dedicated eighth-grade teacher at St. Martin of Tours School. Her death left a profound void in the parish and the lives of the many students she mentored.
On January 9, 2006, at approximately 6:27 a.m., Sister Paul Perreca was crossing the intersection of Cottman Avenue and Hawthorne Street when she was struck by a vehicle making a left turn from Hawthorne Street.
Witness reports indicate the driver stopped momentarily roughly one block away from the impact site before fleeing the scene. No attempt was made to render aid to Sister Paul Perreca, who died from her injuries.
Police are asking the public to recall any information regarding a specific vehicle seen in the area or undergoing sudden repairs in January 2006. The vehicle is described as:
- Make/Model: 1987 to 1989 Ford F150 pick-up truck.
- Color: Two-tone red.
- Distinctive Features: Silver running boards; “F O R D” embossed on the tailgate; 8-foot bed with no toolbox or ladder rack at the time.
- Damage: The vehicle left the scene with a missing or broken front, driver-side amber lamp.
A reward for information leading to an arrest remains active through the Citizens Crime Commission. Authorities urge anyone who may have lived in the neighborhood at the time, worked in automotive repair, or heard details regarding the crash to come forward. Even the smallest detail could be the break investigators need.