A Philadelphia man has been charged with allegedly striking and killing a pedestrian along a Lower Merion road earlier this month, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office said Tuesday.
Farran Haynes, 44, of Clarkson Avenue, allegedly drove the truck that struck Huiqing Jiang, 72, as he walked on Righters Mill Road at night Dec. 2, the DA's office said. Jiang had been babysitting at a friend's house nearby.
A passing driver saw Jiang on the ground. He died a short time later at a hospital.
Haynes allegedly fled the scene after hitting Jiang and later tried covering up the damage to the truck, the DA's office said. The truck is owned by Bala Motor Sports in Bala Cynwyd.
Haynes is charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to stop and render aid, tampering with physical evidence, forgery and operating with unsafe equipment.
Albert and Grace Ong Yan said Jiang was a longtime friend who babysat their two young daughters.
"He's been our beloved babysitter," said Albert Yan. "A very devoted, essentially member of our family since our kids were born."
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Jiang is originally from Shanghai but has lived in the Philadelphia area for years with his wife.
"He was a very sweet man," said Grace Ong Yan. "Very gentle. It's just a tragedy that this happened to someone like him. He's a special person."
