Driver in fatal bus stop crash makes court appearance

A 36-year-old woman accused of fleeing the scene of a deadly crash in Hauula is facing charges for causing bodily injury or death rather than negligent homicide after police said no alcohol or drugs were detected in her system when she turned herself in and was arrested five hours later.

Vika F. Unga made her initial court appearance before Judge Paula Devens at Honolulu District Court on Thursday on felony charges in the Saturday afternoon accident.

Police said Unga was operating a Ford Explorer on Kamehameha Highway when the vehicle, for unknown reasons, crossed the centerline and slammed into a bus stop on the opposite side of the road at about 2 p.m.

A couple from Portland, Ore., sitting at the bus stop fronting the Hauula Kai Shopping Center, were struck by the SUV.

A 61-year-old man identified in court records as Frederick Aalmo was transported in critical condition to Kahuku Hospital, where he died. The Oregon woman, 55, was transported in serious condition to The Queen’s Medical Center.

The state Attorney General’s Office is handling the case to avoid conflict of interest because Unga has a relative who works at the Honolulu prosecutor’s office.

Police said Unga fled the scene after the crash but turned herself in at the Kahuku police station at about 6:45 p.m. that day. She was arrested on suspicion of two counts of failure to render aid and negligent homicide.

Lt. Andre Peters of the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division said Unga wasn’t charged with negligent homicide because there were no alcohol or drugs detected in her system at the time of her arrest. “That’s one of the key parts of charging for negligent homicide,” he said.

Negligent homicide, however, carries the same penalties as the charge for causing an accident involving serious bodily injury or death.

Both offenses are classified as a Class B felonies, with penalties of up to 10 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine.

Unga also faces a separate charge for causing an accident involving substantial bodily injury to the 55-year-old woman — a Class C felony carrying a term of up to five years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.

David Kinikini, who police said was a passenger in the SUV at the time of the crash, was charged with hindering prosecution and released after posting $2,000 bail.

Unga remains free after posting $11,000 bail Monday. Devens set her preliminary hearing for Jan. 25. Unga plans to seek private counsel to represent her in the case.

Unga has a criminal record of driving under the influence of an intoxicant and driving without a license.