Today Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Conshohocken Borough Police Chief Michael Orler announced the arrest of Leah Cielo, a 31 year old resident of Conshohocken, on charges of Homicide by Vehicle and other charges related to the January 31st crash at the intersection of 4th Avenue and Fayette Street in Conshohocken. The crash resulted in the death of a pedestrian, 80-year-old Bruce Collins.

According to the announcement:

A joint investigation of the crash by the Conshohocken Police Department and Montgomery County Detectives determined that Cielo was proceeding in the northbound lane of Fayette Street driving a Toyota Camry. Mr. Collins and his friend, Robert Lindsey, were crossing Fayette Street in the marked crosswalk when the victim was struck by a Toyota Camry driven by Cielo at approximately 6:52 a.m. Mr. Collins was transported by ambulance to Lankenau Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:40 a.m. after having sustained a blunt impact injury to the head. Mr. Lindsey was several feet behind the victim in the crosswalk and was not harmed.

The investigation revealed that the defendant was operating her vehicle with an obstructed windshield at a speed of 32 mph in a 25 mph zone when she failed to stop at the marked crosswalk and struck the victim.

Cielo was arraigned today before Magisterial District Judge Deborah A. Lukens,
who set bail at $75,000 unsecured. She was released on her own
recognizance. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 20th at 1:00 p.m.,
before Judge Lukens.

The case will be prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Richard Bradbury,
Captain of the Community Prosecution Unit.

Photo: Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office