A Bucks County Investigating Grand Jury has recommended a Philadelphia man be charged in a November hit-and-run crash that killed a skateboarder in Bristol Township, said Manuel Gamiz, spokesperson for the Bucks County District Attorney’s (DA) Office.
Joel Moreau, 28 of Bristol Township was killed approximately 10:16 p.m. on November 24, 2023, as he rode his skateboard on the 1500 block of Haines Road.
Tajair Anthony Delbridge, 25, turned himself in on Friday, May 24, 2024. He was arraigned on felony counts of charges of accidents involving death or personal injury and hindering apprehension or prosecution. He also was charged with lesser degree counts of tampering with physical evidence, criminal solicitation, possession of a small amount of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at 10%/$2,000,000.00. Unable to post bail, Delbridge was remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF), according to court records.
The grand jury reached the recommendation to charge Delbridge after hearing testimony from several witnesses and reviewing evidence. Bristol Township Sgt. Mark Titus, who investigated the crash, also testified before the grand jury, said Gamiz.
The investigation determined Delbridge was the driver involved in the fatal crash that killed Moreau. After the crash occurred, Delbridge fled the scene of the crash, abandoned the vehicle, and attempted to have it reported stolen.
According to the investigation, Bristol Township police were dispatched to a fatal hit-and-run crash in the 1500 block of Haines Road on November 24, 2023. Police located a pedestrian, later identified as Moreau, deceased in the northbound lane.
Gamiz said, a witness reported seeing a newer model red Kia travelling behind Moreau who was on a skateboard. After hearing a loud bang, the witness reported that the skateboarder was unresponsive on the road, the red Kia had extensive front-end damage and ultimately fled the scene.
The vehicle was identified during the investigation as a 2022 red Kia K5, which was found abandoned after the crash. The damage to the vehicle was consistent with a pedestrian strike. Police could smell marijuana inside the car and located marijuana-related paraphernalia, according to the DA’s office.
The investigation further showed that police contacted the owner of the vehicle and learned that the vehicle had been rented to Delbridge through a private rental business. Delbridge contacted the business owner at 10:40 p.m., about a half-hour after the crash, and told her to report the car stolen.
Surveillance footage recovered from a nearby business showed the red Kia pulling into the lot. The driver and a female passenger exited the vehicle before getting back inside and driving out of the lot. The Kia was later found a few miles away.
Police were able to identify the female passenger and confirmed that Delbridge was the operator of that vehicle on November 24, 2023, Gamiz said.
This case was investigated by Bristol Township Police, with the assistance of Bucks County 21st Investigating Grand Jury. Assistant District Attorney Kyle Westerfer is assigned for prosecution.
Delbridge’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 4, 2024.
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