A Julian, Pa., man has been charged in connection with the hit-and-run accident on Jan. 30 that killed a Park Forest resident on North Atherton Street who was walking home from work.

Jack Chencharik, 38, of Steele Hollow Road, has been charged with accidents involving death or personal injury and summary offenses of driving with an expired license, failure to stop and render aid, and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.

Leon Shee Sin, 68, was walking home from work at Wegmans, 345 Lowes Blvd., when he was struck by a Ford pickup truck while crossing North Atherton Street between 10:20 and 10:53 p.m. on Jan. 30.

Sin was found lying on the sidewalk still alive and was later pronounced dead at the Mount Nittany Medical Center.

According to court documents, Chencharik said he stopped at Denny's, 1860 N. Atherton St., to alert police of the accident, but he panicked and left instead. Chencharik said he did not see Sin on the road because it was dark.

Tien said Sin's family wants to return his ashes to China, his homeland, in the coming week.

"We are pleased the person was found," said Laurence Tien, a family spokesman. "I'm sure the police did a good job."

Chencharik was arrested and arraigned before District Justice Brad Lunsford on Thursday, according to a Patton Township press release.

Lunsford said the bail was set at $100,000 and Chencharik was incarcerated at Centre County Prison.

During the investigation, the police viewed surveillance videos from businesses along North Atherton.

According to court documents, Chencharik's boss indicated that Chencharik's truck was similar to the truck seen in stills from surveillance video at Sheetz, 101 Valley Vista Drive.

Chencharik's boss said he should talk to the police, and Chencharik agreed to have police come to his residence and later take pictures of his truck.

"It seems like the person felt some remorse, but I don't know if that was mainly because he felt some pressure from his boss," Tien said. "He took some responsibility, though, by admitting his guilt." District Attorney Ray Gricar said the felony charge of accidents involving death or serious injury is the most serious of the charges because it carries a one-year minimum sentence and a three-and-a-half to seven-year maximum sentence.

"The family just wants him to serve the sentence that he deserves," Tien said. "Whatever that is, the family will be happy with."

Gricar said the charges involve Chencharik leaving the scene of the accident.

"He's not charged with being at fault in the accident ... because there is no evidence," he said. "What we know is he left the scene without rendering aid to the victim and calling the police."

Chencharik will appear in court for a preliminary hearing Wednesday at Centre County Courthouse, Bellefonte.