Lower Bail Rejected as Accused Driver Waives Hearing in North Phila. Hit-Run
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A Philadelphia judge today denied a defense request to reduce bail for an 18-year-old from North Philadelphia who is charged with failing to stop after hitting a bicyclist last month on the Temple University campus, leaving a student critically hurt.
Earlier today, the young driver, Rashan Roberts, waived his preliminary hearing, and there are indications he is likely to plead guilty.
Defense lawyer Michael Hanamirian says his client and his family are hoping the victim makes a full and complete recovery, and they did not want to put her family through the stress of a court session.
"He's inclined to own up to all of the responsibilities he has under all of the circumstances," Hanamirian notes.
The defense asked that bail be reduced from $100,000 to $10,000, pointing out the defendant had no prior record, lives with his parents, and that the accident near 13th and Diamond Streets happened when 22-year old Rachel Hall rode her bicycle through a stop sign and into his path.
Assistant DA David Lim says Roberts was driving with two passengers, none of whom bothered to call 911 after the accident to get help for the injured cyclist.
"If he had only stopped, who knows," Lim speculates. "But, quite frankly, he didn't. He didn't render aid."
Lim says he has been in constant touch with Hall's mother about her daughter's condition.
"She's still unconscious and unresponsive. The extent of her ability to come around and any improvement is her ability to just open her eyes. That's pretty much it," Lim says.
Roberts is charged with leaving the scene of an accident.