Found truck may have
been in fatal crash
Pearl City police have recovered a pickup truck that might have been the second vehicle involved in a fatal crash at 895 Hoomoana St. on Wednesday.
Kevin Urata, 38, was found dead in the passenger side of a stolen Acura Integra after it crashed into a Hoomoana Street garage at 4 a.m.
The 25-year-old driver of the car fled but turned himself into police on Thursday and was arrested for suspicion of failing to render aid, negligent homicide and auto theft.
According to traffic investigators, suspect Daniel Morte told them that he crashed because he was forced off the road by another vehicle.
Yesterday afternoon, Pearl City patrol officers recovered what appeared to be an abandoned vehicle matching Morte's description of the second car, about a mile and a half from the crash site.
Investigators described the vehicle found as a Toyota pickup that had been reported stolen from the Stadium Mall area in the first week of February. The gray truck had been repainted white, and the license plate had been altered, with a 3 changed to an 8 and a P changed to a B.
The truck also had some damage to the front fender, though it is not clear if that damage is related to Wednesday's crash. The Integra that crashed had also been reported stolen on March 2 from a Mililani shopping center.
Police are investigating Morte's account and are awaiting forensic tests to see if the damage on the pickup matches damage on the Integra.
As of last night, Morte had not been charged.
Prior to Wednesday's crash, Morte had a warrant out for his arrest for a string of outstanding speeding and traffic violations, police said. Urata also had several convictions for theft and drug offenses.
Police said they have made no arrests so far relating to the recovered pickup truck.