Driver gets 10-year sentence in fatal hit-and-run at bus stop

Vika Unga was returning home from visiting a friend after finishing her 12-hour shift at Kahuku Hospital, where she was a medical laboratory technician, when she nodded off behind the wheel of her sport utility vehicle, crossed the center line and crashed into a bus stop fronting Hauula Shopping Center, Unga’s lawyer Richard Sing told a state judge Thursday.

Sing asked Circuit Judge Karen Nakasone to sentence Unga to probation for fleeing the scene after causing the Dec. 23, 2017 death of Frederick Aalmo, 61 and injuring Phyllis Carter-Cameron, 55, who were sitting at the bus stop.

Nakasone sentenced Unga to the maximum 10-year prison term for fleeing the scene of a fatal traffic accident, concurrent five-year terms for negligent homicide and fleeing after injuring Carter-Cameron, and a one-year term for injuring Carter-Cameron.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority will decide when Unga can be eligible for parole. She has been in custody since July.

Unga, 37, pleaded no contest in August to negligent homicide, negligent injury and two counts of failing to remain at the scene of the accident to render assistance.

Nakasone said she could not grant Unga probation because of the multiple violations she committed while free on bail. She said the seven months Unga was free on bail was “her golden opportunity to prove” that she deserved probation but instead was a “disaster.”

Unga agreed, “It was, and I’m not going to deny that. And I apologize to the court. I had a lot on my plate this year and I didn’t know how to deal with it.”

While free on $25,000 bail, Unga violated a condition of her release by operating a vehicle, which resulted in Nakasone increasing her bail to $50,000. Unga later pleaded no contest to operating a vehicle without a license and was sentenced to a two-day jail term.

Unga posted the higher bail and was caught again operating a vehicle, tested positive for illegal drug use and was kicked out of a substance abuse treatment program for taking drugs into the treatment facility.

Unga hugged her husband and three minor children before state sheriff deputies took her away.

Carter-Cameron said the impact from the accident put her in the hospital for three weeks and it has taken her nearly a year to walk again. She told Nakasone her leg swells every day, which limits her activity, she has permanent scars and has to deal with health issues for the rest of her life.

“I don’t wish anybody jail or prison. But I understand there’s been prior traffic violations. Something needed to be done about the driving. If she’s tired, either pull aside or take the bus,” Carter-Cameron said after the sentence.

Unga has prior convictions for DUI and fleeing after hitting a parked vehicle.

She left her SUV at the Hauula bus stop but turned herself in 4-1/2 hours later. Her husband, David Kinikini, stayed in the SUV and told police he was the driver. He is charged with hindering prosecution and is scheduled to go to trial next month.