The Upper Darby Township man accused of critically injuring another man in a hit-and-run accident on New Year’s Day, was released on bail Tuesday.
McManus, a husband and father of two, was the designated driver that night, according to police. He was hit when he got out of his minivan to open the passenger side door for a friend.
“John flew between 15 and 20 feet,” said friend Dan Petrucci.
Police began to investigate Cooper, an emergency medical technician, when a television viewer reported suspicious damage to his Ford 500.
On Monday, while police were at his apartment complex looking at his car, they said Cooper walked up to them and admitted “hitting something” and fleeing the scene. Cooper maintains he did not know it was a person, authorities said.
“He was very remorseful. I think he knows he made a bad choice,” Folcroft Police Corporal Christopher Eiserman told NBC10 Philadelphia.
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An admission of “hitting something” and fleeing is not sitting well with the McManus family.
“He only went up to them [police] after someone called and reported his car. He only went out there because the police were out there looking at the vehicle, so I don’t see him being a very good person because he came out after the fact,” wife Misty McManus said following the suspect’s preliminary hearing Tuesday.
Matthew Cooper was released on $500,000 unsecured bail after spending a night in prison. He is due back in court later this month. Unsecured bail means you don't have to pay the money up front, but you do have to promise to return to court .
