35 year-old Garrett A. Duran of Kona was sentenced to ten years in prison for a fatal single vehicle traffic collision involving a pedestrian last July.
Yesterday, Duran, who remained out of custody for the majority of his proceedings after posting $106,100.00 bail, appeared in Kona Circuit Court where after receiving the Court’s sentence, he was ordered to be taken into custody to begin serving his sentence.
According to police reports, Duran struck Christian Lipka, who was walking alongside the roadway. Lipka’s traumatic injuries included multiple broken bones and ribs, lacerations, blood in his skull, a lacerated spleen, and a broken neck. Duran fled the scene on foot and was contacted by police a short time later. Police obtained a blood draw search warrant, results indicated that Duran had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.132.
On November 22, 2024, Duran appeared in Kona Circuit Court where he entered “Guilty” pleas to the charges of Negligent Homicide in the First Degree.
Negligent Homicide in the First Degree and Accidents Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury are both class B felony offenses which carry a penalty of either a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up 18 months in jail.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Woodward.
HPD Photo