Kihei man charged in deadly 2016 hit-and-run on Maui
A 23-year-old man has been charged with negligent homicide in connection with the deadly 2016 hit-and-run collision that killed a 16-year-old pedestrian in Kihei.
Charles Tyler Hardy of Kihei appeared before Judge Peter Cahill at Second Circuit Court Thursday after he was charged with accidents involving death and first-degree negligent homicide in the death of Hannah Simmons.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hardy’s bail was set at $250,000.
The crash occurred at about 8:50 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2016, at the intersection of Piilani Highway and Uwapo Road in Kihei.
Police said a vehicle made a left turn from Kawaihine Street onto the highway when the vehicle struck Simmons, also of Kihei, who was in a marked crosswalk.
Police said the driver fled the scene.
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Court documents allege Hardy was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision.
Police arrested him Wednesday.
Lt. William Hankins, commander of the Maui Police Department’s Traffic Section, said Hardy’s arrest “is a culmination of hundreds of man-hours spent by the Vehicle Homicide Unit reconstructing the crash. It is the goal of the Maui Police Department to conduct thorough investigations of these crashes and work with the Prosecutor’s office to hold those responsible for their actions.”
“We owe it to the victims and their family members to help bring closure to these avoidable crashes. Families of crash victims who are killed or seriously injured deserve justice,” Hankins said in a police news release.