An Upper Township man accused in a fatal hit-and-run will remain in jail, a judge ordered Thursday.
It was his decision to leave the scene after seeing the victim lying in the street that caused the judge to detain him, despite a public safety assessment that recommended he be released with no conditions.
“He did choose at that time — even with witnesses nearby — to see the victim, to see potentially fatal injuries to the victim, then to get back in his car and leave the scene,” Judge Christopher Gibson said. “That is the most significant factor to the court.”
Maucher did try to turn himself the next day, attorney John Tumelty told the judge as he argued for his client’s release.
Tumelty said Maucher called him early Dec. 30, and told him what happened. This was before a composite sketch was released or there was any information about what police knew of the suspect, the attorney added.
Maucher, who has lived in Upper Township for more than five years, has no prior history either criminally or driving, Tumelty said.
There was a beer bottle also found at the scene, along with a McDonald’s bag, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Dara Paley told the judge.
The investigation indicated that Maucher had gone to the McDonald’s minutes before the crash.
But the investigation into possible alcohol consumption did not weigh on the decision, since that is still ongoing, the judge said.
A preliminary investigation into the cause of the crash indicated that the victim was in the middle of the northbound lane and failed to yield to traffic, Tumelty pointed out.
Atlantic County had a similar fatal hit-and-run in which a driver stopped and twice went to the victim before leaving the scene.
