NILES — A 63-year-old Warren Township man charged in a fatal hit-and-run that killed Brenda Hibbard, a retired teacher, is set to appear for a preliminary hearing today in Niles Municipal Court.

Wayne S. Keeley, of Hickory Lane, who pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Tuesday, remains in custody at the Trumbull County jail on a $1 million bond.

During Keeley’s Tuesday arraignment, Niles Municipal Court Judge Christopher Shaker discussed the severity of the charges, noting that driving is a privilege and that Keeley failed to stop or report the crash.

Keeley was represented by a public defender, who noted his lack of prior criminal history and community ties, but Shaker set the bond at $1 million, citing the need to protect the public.

The preliminary hearing will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bind the case over to a grand jury.

According to a Niles police news release, Niles police responded to a call 8:43 p.m. Saturday in the area of Fifth Street and Indiana Avenue, where they found Hibbard, 67, unresponsive in a yard.

Police determined a driver veered off the road, struck a shed, hit a parked vehicle and then fled, striking Hibbard as she investigated the crash.

Hibbard, a resident of the neighborhood, died of her injuries overnight, police said.

Keeley, identified as the owner of a black Ford F-150 King Ranch, was apprehended after a resident’s tip led police to the vehicle in the Niles Park Plaza parking lot.

According to the media release, Keeley cooperated with detectives, stating he fell asleep while driving home from work and panicked after the crash.

Niles Police Capt. John Marshall, following the arraignment, talked about the work that went into making a quick arrest, which included contributions from the community.

“The speed and success we have is often based on information from the public,” Marshall said. “We pursued probably 30 or more leads, and a tip led us to the correct car.”

Investigators recovered vehicle parts with serial numbers at the scene and used Flock camera footage to narrow down the vehicle to an F-series Ford, aiding in Keeley’s swift identification.

On Monday, Police Chief Jay Holland also praised the community’s role in the swift resolution, noting, “Citizen tips, combined with our patrol and detective work and the city’s Flock cameras, allowed us to solve this case quickly.”

Hibbard, a retired second-grade teacher from Newton Falls Exempted Village School District, was remembered fondly by Superintendent Andreas Johansson. “Brenda touched and shaped the lives of thousands of children, fostering curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of learning. Her kindness, dedication and lasting influence on the Newton Falls learning community will be forever remembered and cherished.”