A Fitchburg man charged with the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian last month told police the man "disappeared" in front of his car, but said he didn’t stop because he didn’t know what to do, according to a criminal complaint.

Robert E. Jones, 27, was charged Friday with hit and run resulting in death, a felony that carries up to 25 years of prison and extended supervision. He is in jail on $7,000 bail.

Jones was arrested on June 28 in the death of Larry D. Caraway Jr., 19, who was struck as he crossed Verona Road at Raymond Road about 10:50 p.m. on June 27. A friend, Ferris Lucas, said the traffic light was green for Verona Road traffic, but Caraway began to cross the street anyway, according to the complaint. Lucas told police he called out to Caraway as he saw a car approaching.

The car continued northbound on Verona Road after striking Caraway, Lucas told police.

According to the complaint:

A tip helped police find the damaged car at the Chalet Gardens apartments in Fitchburg, where Jones lives, not far from the crash scene. The car matched vehicle debris left at the scene.

Jones initially denied knowing about any damage to his car and claimed not to have driven it for about three days. He later admitted seeing Caraway at the side of the road and thought Caraway had seen him.

Asked whether Caraway had run or walked into traffic, Jones said, "All of a sudden he disappeared in front of my car. I didn’t swerve off. I didn’t do anything, I was going through the light."

Jones said he went to a Laundromat on South Park Street and sat there for a half hour, not knowing what to do, then went home.