DEADLY HIT AND RUN CRASH

Kaneohe man killed when truck crashes into tree.

KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM
A 26-year-old Kaneohe man died when his pickup
truck collided with a car and then hit a mango tree
in a yard near Kalihi and Bernice streets this morning.
The driver and passenger of the car fled the scene.
Police arrested two people a short time later in Makiki.

Makiki man arrested in
hit-and-run fatal crash

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

A 26-year-old Kaneohe man died this morning in a hit-and-run crash when his pickup truck collided with a car on Kalihi Street, hit a utility pole and then a mango tree in the yard of a home.

Police arrested a 24-year-old Makiki man, who they believe was the driver of the car, for negligent homicide and failure to render aid.

A 37-year-old woman, believed to be the passenger, was also arrested for hindering prosecution.

Police said the large GMC pickup truck, also known as a dualie, had just entered Kalihi Street from the H-1 Freeway off ramp when it hit the car traveling mauka on Kalihi Street near Kapalama School and the Bishop Museum about 2:04 a.m.

KEN SAKAMOTO / KSAKAMOTO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Truck rammed through wire fence and ended up in the
yard at 1640 Bernice St. The vehicle was traveling
on Kahili Street when it collided with a car and
ended up in the yard.

The impact sent the truck off the right side of Kalihi Street where it clipped the utility pole, then crashed through a fence and into the mango tree in the yard of the home at 1460 Bernice St. Pieces of the truck were scattered throughout the yard.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said witnesses told them they saw the car stop, a man and a woman get out and then go back into the car and drive away. Police located the car about an hour later at the registered owner's apartment at 1541 Dominis St. in Makiki, where they arrested the suspects.

A Hawaiian Electric Co. representative said the impact with the utility pole caused a power outage in the area cutting off electricity to about 5,000 customers. She said power was restored to all customers by 3 a.m.

Police were forced to close at least one mauka-bound lane of Kalihi Street to morning rush-hour traffic to conduct their investigation.