The 21-year-old driver who was allegedly texting just before her car hit a pole in Waimanalo last year, killing her passenger, will be arraigned in Circuit Court on Thursday on a charge of negligent homicide.
Chanel Franco was indicted by an Oahu grand jury March 23. Her bail was set at $11,000.
According to police, Franco was driving a silver 2003 Honda Civic southeast on Hihimanu Street on April 16 when she lost control of her car, which veered off the road and hit a utility pole.
Two witnesses told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last year that the driver told them after the fatal accident that she blamed herself because she had been texting and reaching down for something just before the accident. When she looked up, a van was coming straight at her, so she swerved to avoid it, according to what the witnesses said Franco told them at the scene.
The impact might have thrown passenger Jessica Lum out the back door, which had been ripped off during the crash, witnesses told the Star-Advertiser.
The driver and another passenger were taken in serious condition to the Queen’s Medical Center.
Lum died at the scene of the single-car crash near Waimanalo District Park.
Woman killed in collision is identified
A 19-year-old woman who died after being hit by a vehicle Monday in Puna was identified Tuesday as Skye Noah of Pahoa.
Noah died of internal injuries and her death was determined to be an accident, Hawaii island police said.
A 22-year-old man, who had no driver’s license, reported to officers at the Hilo police station at about 1 a.m. Monday that he might have been in a traffic collision on Route 130.
Officers checking the area found Noah dead on the shoulder of the road near Kaloli Drive.
Police are investigating possible charges for negligent homicide, fleeing the scene of an accident and driving without a license.
Police determined Noah was walking toward Pahoa on the mauka shoulder when she was hit by a 2003 Ford pickup truck traveling in the same direction.
Witnesses to the incident, or anyone who might have seen the white Ford Ranger on Route 130 during the evening hours of Sunday or early morning hours of Monday, should call officer Keith Nacis at 961-8119.
Fatal shooting of boy deemed home accident
A boy who was fatally shot Friday in Puna died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Hawaii island police said Tuesday.
Police said an autopsy was conducted Tuesday. Foul play has been ruled out, and the case has been classified as a fatal home accident.
Police are investigating possible criminal charges stemming from the firearm storage.
The incident happened at about 8 p.m. at an Oshiro Road home in Mountain View. The boy was taken to the Hilo Medical Center in critical condition and died Saturday.
