The family of a 25-year-old Mililani man who was killed in a hit-and-run crash while riding a motorcycle on the H-1 freeway in April was angered Tuesday by a grand jury indictment against the alleged driver — a Kalihi woman who hadn’t yet obtained a driver’s license.
An Oahu grand jury returned the indictment charging Chantel Andrade with fleeing the scene of a fatal crash and driving without a license. Her bail is $25,000. Initially, Andrade was arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.
Keith Jantoc was riding his motorcycle on H-1 near Waikele when he was struck by an SUV at about 10 p.m. April 15. The next morning police found an SUV with motorcycle parts in its grille in a Pearl City parking lot and towed it for evidence. Andrade, 40, turned herself in the same day and was released two days later pending investigation.
Andrade had traffic violations connected to the same license plate on the recovered SUV.
According to court records, she was arrested less than one week before the crash for investigation of driving more than 30 mph over the speed limit and driving without insurance.
She was also cited that day for a delinquent vehicle tax, an expired safety check and driving with an instruction permit without a licensed driver present.
Jantoc’s family members wanted Andrade to be charged with an offense that carries a heavier punishment.
"I’m so upset," said Eiichi Jumawan, Jantoc’s uncle. "My sister (Jantoc’s mother) is very upset. She called me this morning. She’s in tears and could not believe this."
Jumawan said Jantoc’s mother, Sharon, was "offended" by the charges brought against Andrade.
Fleeing the scene of a fatal crash is a Class B felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Jumawan wanted the driver to at least be charged with manslaughter, which carries a punishment of up to 20 years in prison.
"This person, whether an accident or intentional, killed my nephew, ran him over," Jumawan said. He said considering that the woman was again driving without a license or insurance just days after she was caught means she is not afraid of flaunting the law.
Jumawan said the prosecutor’s office also has provided the family with little information, and noted that the office may be concerned about its image because it told the family not to speak with the media.
Dave Koga, prosecutor’s office spokesman, said, "We truly sympathize with the Jantoc family’s loss, but the charges have to be based on what the evidence indicates." He said he could not comment further except to say more details pertaining to the case will come out later.
