70 year-old Carlton Inada of Hilo was arrested and charged in relation to a recent traffic fatality on Akolea Road.

As the Complaint alleges, Inada was charged with Negligent Homicide in the Second Degree (caused the death of another person by operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner) and Collisions Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury. Collisions Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury is a class B felony offense which carries a penalty of either a ten-year prison term or four years probation and up to eighteen months in jail. Negligent Homicide in the Second Degree is a class C felony offense which carries a penalty of either a five-year prison term or five years probation and up to twelve months in jail.

The charges are merely allegations and the Defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case was initiated by South Hilo Patrol while the felony traffic investigation was led by Officer Jerome Duarte, and assisted by Sgt. Jeremy Riddle and Officer Jared Cabatu, of the Hawaiʻi County Police Department’s Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Herbert Mukai.

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney