Deadly hit-and-run case in hands of city prosecutor

Question: What happened to the woman who was arrested for killing a motorcyclist by the Kunia entrance to the freeway in April? She hit the man, then drove away and abandoned her SUV at a Home Depot parking lot. She later was found and arrested. What’s the status of this case? I discovered there was a similar incident in California and that the woman responsible there was being held on $1 million bail. I would like to know what’s happening with this because I ride a motorcycle.

Answer: The Honolulu Police Department has forwarded the suspected road rage case against Chantel Andrade, 40, of Kalihi to the Honolulu prosecutor’s office.

The case is under review, Dave Koga, spokesman for the prosecuting attorney, said Tuesday.

No other information was available.

Keith Jantoc, 25, of Mililani was riding his motorcycle on the H-1 freeway near Waikele when witnesses said he was deliberately struck by a sport utility vehicle April 15.

Police arrested Andrade after her damaged SUV, believed to have been involved in the hit-and-run death, was found in the Pearl City Home Depot parking lot.

She was arrested on a possible charge of second-degree murder, as well as on a contempt warrant, but was released pending further investigation.

HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said it is up to the prosecutor’s office to determine what charges, if any, to file against her.

In the road-rage case in California, Darla Jackson, 26, of San Diego is accused of intentionally driving her car into a motorcycle driven by Zacharia Buob, a 39-year-old Navy officer, pushing it 300 feet, then running over him May 28.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the two apparently had gotten into an argument on an interstate freeway just before the fatal incident.

Jackson pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. She was being held on $1 million bail.

Question: What ever happened to the hurricane insurance fund? Are we going to get a refund?

Answer: No one is going to get a refund.

Twenty-two years after the state Legislature set up the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund to help property owners in the wake of Hurricane Iniki, the fund remains, ready to be utilized if needed because of another devastating storm.

As of March 31 the fund has a net balance of $184.6 million, said Christine Hirasa, spokeswoman for the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs’ Insurance Division.

The fund was set up after many insurers, faced with more than $1 billion in claims caused by Iniki, stopped writing hurricane policies, folded or left the state. The fund was fed by insurance premiums, special mortgage recording fees and annual insurance company assessments.

When the fund shut down in 2002, after insurers returned to the Hawaii market, it had $220 million. It has been raided by the state over the years to make up budget shortfalls but has been climbing back up as the state reimburses the fund for its various withdrawals.

Mahalo

To a thoughtful couple. My husband lost his wallet while shopping at the Waipahu Town Center. They drove all the way to our home in Waipio to return it. I am sure they were quite busy as they had two elderly women in the back seat, yet took the time to find us. It was the day before Mother’s Day, and I am sure their mothers are very proud of them. — Couple in Waipio

Auwe

To drivers turning right from Vineyard Boulevard onto Pali Highway (mauka-bound) not yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.A gray Ford Escape cut through the crosswalk in front of me as I tried to cross on a walk signal. On the way back, a red hatchback cut behind me. Another day, a red Mercedes convertible cut behind me. All this while I was "on the side of the street of the direction in which they were traveling." Note to HPD: This is a great spot for a crosswalk sting. — Concerned Pedestrian

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.