Driver from fatal crash
in May 2002 turns self in
A 24-year-old Waimanalo man surrendered to police Wednesday in connection with a traffic fatality near the Women's Community Correctional Center in Kailua last year.
He was arrested for suspicion of negligent homicide and released without charges but he has agreed to waive indictment, said Nora Garrod, deputy city prosecutor.
Jasmine Pai, 15, of Kaneohe, died May 28, 2002, when the car she was riding in slid sideways into the front of an oncoming van. The suspect was the driver of the car.
The impact caused the car to break into two pieces. Both occupants were thrown from the vehicle. Police said neither was wearing a seat belt. Pai was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, who was 22 at the time, was critically injured but has since recovered. The van driver was not injured.
Witnesses told police the car was speeding and veering onto the grass median of Kalanianaole Highway to pass other vehicles.
Police said some witnesses reported the car was traveling at least 70 mph while others said it was going faster than 100 mph. Some of the witnesses who called 911 on their cellular telephones before the collision described the driver's actions as reckless, police said.
