A Vienna man who allegedly drove off after striking a pedestrian with his car on Route 29 in Merrifield last month has been arrested.
William Wang, 28, has been charged with a felony hit and run for his involvement in the fatal crash, which was initiated by another vehicle who first hit the pedestrian, the Fairfax County Police Department announced today (Wednesday).
Officers were dispatched to Route 29 near Braxton Wood Court at 6:48 p.m. on Dec. 29 after the driver of a 2020 Nissan Rogue hit Michelle Wheeler, who was 53 and had “no fixed address,” police say.
Through an investigation, detectives learned that Wheeler was “standing in the left lane of eastbound Route 29” when she was struck first by the Nissan driver and then by the driver of a 2024 Toyota Camry that left the scene. The FCPD says Wang has been identified as the Camry driver.
Wheeler was transported to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.
“The driver of the Nissan Rogue was uninjured and remained on scene,” the FCPD said.
Police didn’t immediately comment on whether the Nissan driver is expected to face any charges, but a department spokesperson says the crash remains under investigation.
According to the FCPD, Wang turned himself into the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center yesterday (Monday) and was later released after a magistrate set a $2,000 bond.
Online Fairfax County General District Court records list the charge against Wang as failing to stop for a vehicle accident involving injury or death, which is classified as a Class 5 felony in Virginia. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison or a jail sentence of up to 12 months with a maximum fine of $2,500, depending on the discretion of a jury or the judge if there isn’t a jury.
Wang is scheduled to appear in court for an arraignment at 10:30 a.m. next Tuesday (Jan. 20), followed by a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. on March 30.
Wheeler was one of three pedestrians to die in a crash in Fairfax County where a driver fled the scene within the span of nine days.
Police are still seeking the drivers responsible for hit-and-run crashes that killed pedestrians on Little River Turnpike in Annandale and Richmond Highway in Huntington on Jan. 7.
