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COURTESY KAUAI POLICE DEPARTMENT
Cody Safadago
A 46-year-old man appeared in court on Kauai today, accused of killing a 19-year-old woman in a head-on crash last week while allegedly driving drunk in a stolen pickup and without a license.
Kauai District Court Judge Michael Soong confirmed bail for Cody Safadago at $1 million. Kauai police said Safadago, who is originally from Washington state, has no known address and is believed to be living in Kalalau Valley.
Safadago was being held today at Kauai Community Correctional Center and had a preliminary hearing set for Wednesday.
He was charged in connection with Thursday night’s crash with first-degree negligent homicide, auto theft, drunken driving, driving without a license, reckless driving, inattention to driving, resisting arrest, and failing to render aid.
Police said Kayla Huddy-Lemn, of Kapaa, was killed in the crash on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa.
Police said Safadago was driving a Nissan pickup that had been stolen from a home on Makaha Road in Kapaa moments before the crash.
He crossed the centerline and struck Huddy-Lemn’s oncoming Mazda sedan at about 10:45 p.m., police said.
Safadago continued south-bound on the highway for about 500 feet after the crash and stopped near Kintaro Japanese Restaurant, police said.
He then ran away, but was located near Wailua Shopping Plaza and arrested after a brief struggle with officers, police said.
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