Woman pleads not guilty in fatal Hauula crash

A 36-year-old woman accused of plowing into a Hauula bus stop in a deadly hit-and-run that killed a 61-year-old Oregon man pleaded not guilty Thursday in Circuit Court.

Vika F. Unga appeared before Judge Colette Garibaldi on charges of second-degree negligent homicide in the death of Frederick Aalmo of Portland last month. She also was charged with second-degree negligent injury in connection with a 55-year-old woman who was seriously injured.

Unga’s attorney, Richard Sing, pleaded not guilty on her behalf to all of the charges. Her trial is set for March, and she remains free after posting $25,000 bail.

During the arraignment, Garibaldi granted the state’s requests that Unga submit to random drug testing and is prohibited from operating a vehicle while the case is pending, according to Dana Viola, spokeswoman of the state Attorney General’s Office.

Sing declined to comment on the charges after the hearing ended.

A $25,000 bench warrant was issued for Unga’s arrest on the charges last week, and she turned herself in to state sheriffs Friday.

The crash occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 23 near the Hauula Shopping Center on Kamehameha Highway. Unga is accused of driving a Ford Explorer that crossed the centerline and slammed into a bus stop on the opposite side of the road. Aalmo and a woman were struck sitting at the bus stop fronting the shopping center.

Police said Unga fled after the crash but turned herself in to police about five hours later.

Her passenger, David Kinikini, was charged with second-degree hindering prosecution.