ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Florida Highway Patrol says charges are pending against a 28-year-old man who was driving in a hit-and-run that killed a bicyclist early Tuesday morning in Orange Park.
State troopers said they located Shaun Simms and have identified him as the driver in the crash that killed 65-year-old Jean Siyon.
Recommended Videos
Troopers said Simms was interviewed and is being fully cooperative in their investigation.
The crash happened shortly after midnight Tuesday on Wells Road near the Orange Park Mall.
Siyon (pictured, below), of Orange Park, died at the scene.
A dark pickup truck was traveling east on Wells in the right lane and Siyon was ahead of the vehicle, also in the right, eastbound lane, according to the FHP report. Troopers said the vehicle hit Siyon and left the scene.
After the Florida Highway Patrol asked for the public's help in locating a black 2003-05 Ford pickup truck with front end damage, a tip led troopers to the pickup and the driver, troopers said.
Siyon and his wife, Marie, had been married 45 years and had five children.
On Tuesday, Marie's world turned upside down with her husband's death. She doesn't speak English, so a relative translated the anguish she is now fighting through.
"She says she's going to miss everything," the translator said.
The Siyons moved to Orange Park six years ago from Haiti hoping to better their lives. Jean was on his way home from work when he was struck and killed.
Dozens of family members flooded Siyon's apartment Tuesday, devastated and trying to piece this together.
They say Siyon's children are hoping to be able to go to their dad's funeral, but they're not sure how they're going to afford to come over from Haiti.
Marie says Jean was a great husband, brother, uncle and friend, but he was best at being a dad.
"She loves him because he was a great, great, great, great father. So no one can replace him," the translator said.
Anyone who would like to help the family in affording to bring Siyon's children to the U.S. from Haiti for his funeral is asked to call family members Gary Francois at 904-485-7605 or Sony St. Vilus at 904-485-3710.