Man Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run Goes to Court

Pacurie Huynh said little as he appeared for a preliminary hearing Thursday in Springfield.

Huynh, 29, is charged in the July 4, 2012 hit-and-run accident on State Road that police say led to the eventual death of 28-year-old Thomas Quercetti, of Boothwyn. Quarcetti spent six months in intensive care and getting in-home care before his family made the decision to take him off life support. He died on Feb. 20.

Huynh is charged with one third-degree felony count for (causing) an accident involving death or personal injury and a summary (citation) for failure to give information and render aid. Huynh, who lives in Upper Darby, is being held in the Delaware County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Preliminary Hearing Waived

During the hearing Thursday morning before District Judge Anthony Scanlon, Huynh waved his right to a preliminary hearing. When asked if he understood his rights, Huynh acknowledged that he understood what his attorney and the judge had told him.

During the hearing, defense attorney Robert Gamburg alluded to the potential for some kind of deal with prosecutors in the case. Afterward, Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Wills told Springfield Patch she was not aware of any potential plea agreement.

Next Scheduled Appearance

Huynh is next scheduled to appear in the Court of Common Pleas. That appearance will be at the Delaware County Courthouse in Media for a formal arraignment on the charges. That will be Huynh's first opportunity to plead guilty or not guilty to the charges.

Needle in a Haystack

With no vehicle or driver left at the scene finding evidence linking anyone to the accident was what Quercetti family attorney Albert Greto described as being like "finding a needle in a haystack."

Click on the video clip for more of Greto's interview with Springfield Patch.

Working with the FBI's crime lab, Springfield Det. Daniel McNeely was eventually able to trace pieces of a headlamp found on the scene to a Toyota SUV. That discovery eventually led to parts ordered to repair a damaged vehicle. According to court documents, police say they were eventually able to trace the replacement parts to a body shop in Essington where police say Huynh paid for nearly $8,000 worth of repairs in cash.