Montco woman, 31, charged in accident that killed 80-year-old man

A Montgomery County woman, who police said struck and killed an 80-year-old pedestrian in Conshohocken, was charged Tuesday with homicide by vehicle.

Leah Cielo, 31, was driving a white Toyota Camry near dawn on Jan. 31 when her windshield fogged over. As she approached the crosswalk near Fourth Avenue and Fayette Street, Cielo attempted to clear her window. At that moment, Bruce Collins, 80, was walking across Fayette with a friend on the way to a morning service at the Calvary Episcopal Church. Collins was marveling at the sky, saying to his friend, "Look at that light," when the Camry hit him. The impact sent Collins airborne for 30 feet. His hat and coffee landed in the crosswalk.

Cielo, who had swerved to avoid hitting Collins' friend, stopped the car, opened the door, and told the friend how sorry she was.  An ambulance took Collins to Lankenau Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead of a head injury. Investigators determined Cielo may have been driving 7 miles an hour over the 25 mph speed limit.

Cielo, who was arrested and later released on her own recognizance, faces a March 20 hearing before Magisterial District Judge Deborah A. Lukens.