Drug Fugitive Charged In Norristown Hit And Run, Left Man Dead

NORRISTOWN, PA — A man who at the time was wanted on charges related to a fatal drug overdose has now also been charged for a fatal hit and run in Norristown that left a Hatfield man dead last summer, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

Marquese H. Gaines, 29, of Philadelphia, who was arrested in Sept. 2019, now faces an array of charges for the two cases.

The new charges stem from a crash that occurred on Aug. 30, 2019 near the intersection of East Airy and Violet streets in Norristown.

>>Gaines Among 6 Charged After String Of Fatal Drug Overdoses: Montco DA

A 2003 Yamaha dirt bike, driven by Timothy Manning Jr., 35, was heading west on East Airy at around 9:09 p.m. that night, police said.

That's when a 2013 silver Infinity sedan, driven by Gaines, turned off of Violet Street and into the path of the dirt bike, according to authorities.

Manning braked but still hit the left front bumper of the sedan. Gaines got out of the car, left it there, and fled the scene on foot, police said.

First responders took Manning by helicopter to Thomas Jefferson Hospital, where he died hours later.

Gaines was among six charged following a fatal string of local drug overdoses in late 2018 and early 2019. He was specifically charged for dealing the opioids that led to the death of Daniel Marinari in Upper Merion back on Dec. 28, 2018.

Gaines remains incarcerated at Montgomery County Correctional Facility. The charges against him include drug delivery resulting in death, possession with intent to deliver, accident involving death/failure to stop, and numerous related counts.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 4.