Man Arrested For Fatal Montco Hit And Run: DA

A Montgomery County driver has been arrested after hitting 24-year-old Donald Purnell, and then leaving him to die on the side of Route 100 after a March 3 crash, the District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Adam Timbario, 28, of Gilbertsville, has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident, tampering with evidence, and related charges, authorities said.

Timbario attempted to sell his truck immediately after the crash to a prospective buyer for $4,500, according to the DA. The buyer contacted a body shop mechanic to review damage to the vehicle, and the mechanic recognized the vehicle from reports of the incident, police said.

The mechanic told the buyer about the crash, and the buyer contacted police, leading to the location of the truck on March 7.

When police initially interviewed Timbario, he said that an "object" had struck his truck while he was traveling at around 60 miles an hour, according to a criminal complaint. Timbario said he stopped at the next traffic light and got out the vehicle to check it for damage. He claimed to not know he had hit a person.

When investigators interviewed him later, he claimed that he had returned to the scene, gave an officer his name, and that he was told he was allowed to leave. Police say that he fabricated that entire story.

Purnell, a father of a young girl, was headed to his shift at Wendy's when he was struck.

"A beloved son, father, brother, cousin, nephew, friend was killed," wrote a friend of Purnell's, Elizabeth Ferkins. "So young, full of life, he was taken too soon."

Ferkins has launched a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to help with funeral expenses and to support Purnell's daughter, Graycyn.

To learn more or to donate to Purnell's family, see here.

Bail for Timbario was set at $75,000. A preliminary hearing has been set for March 31.

Image via Montgomery County District Attorney's Office