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Accused hit-run driver might have to stay around

A prosecutor said yesterday she plans to file a motion to limit the movements of a Temple University senior accused in a hit-and-run that critically injured a Temple law-school student after the defendant posted bail and was released from county prison.

A prosecutor said yesterday she plans to file a motion to limit the movements of a Temple University senior accused in a hit-and-run that critically injured a Temple law-school student after the defendant posted bail and was released from county prison.

"In order to protect others from being victimized by this defendant, the commonwealth is filing a motion to amend the conditions of bail to revoke the defendant's driver's license and to restrict his ability to leave Philadelphia County," Assistant District Attorney Lynne O'Brien said.

Nicholas Hasselback, 22, is accused of striking Tony Foltz, 25, a third-year law student, on Benjamin Franklin Parkway near 22nd Street at about 2:30 a.m. on April 11, then fleeing. Foltz remained in critical condition yesterday at Hahnemann University Hospital.

O'Brien said she planned to file the motion Monday before the Municipal Court judge who is expected to preside over Hasselback's preliminary hearing later in the week on charges of leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated assault and related offenses.

On Thursday, Common Pleas Judge Frank Palumbo refused to lower Hasselback's $500,000 bail. Later that day, Hasselback's supporters posted the required 10 percent, or $50,000, to get him out of prison that night.

Hasselback's attorney, Andrew Gay Jr., said yesterday he couldn't identify who had posted the bail, but it wasn't Hasselback's family, whom he had previously described as "not a wealthy family." His client, he said, is "supported by his family and a large circle of community friends, not only in Philadelphia, but in Lancaster County as well."

Hasselback is from Ephrata, Lancaster County. He was most recently living in an apartment with friends on Ridge Avenue near Ferry Road in East Falls.

The day after the accident, police towed Hasselback's white Subaru, with its damaged front windshield, from the parking lot of his East Falls apartment after receiving an anonymous tip.

Hasselback surrendered to police on April 14, after first going to his parents' house in Ephrata the day before.