Update: Conway man charged in connection with CCU student’s death

A 19-year-old Coastal Carolina University student was struck by a vehicle and killed early Saturday morning, and a 31-year-old Conway man has been charged in connection with the deadly crash.

Ryan Bielawa, a CCU student from Averill Park, N.Y., was trying to cross S.C. 544, near the Monarch Apartments, on foot when he was hit by a vehicle about 12:45 a.m., according to Tamara Willard, chief deputy coroner with the Horry County Coroner’s Office.

Conway police responded to the crash and determined Bielawa had been struck and and the suspect vehicle had left the scene, according to Sgt. Darren Alston with Conway police.

Shortly afterward, the suspect vehicle returned and the driver was identified as Edward Lee Washington, Alston said.

He was arrested in connection with the fatal crash and is charged with felony driving under the influence, death results and driving under suspension, license not suspended for DUI, first offense, jail records show.

Washington is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on $51,234 bond, records show.

The crash remains under investigation by Conway police and the South Carolina Highway Patrol MAIT Team.

More information will be available as soon as it is provided. Please check back for story updates.

This story was originally published October 29, 2016 at 9:13 AM with the headline "Update: Conway man charged in connection with CCU student’s death."