Police investigate traffic collision that killed an elderly Hilo woman - Big Island Now

Police investigate traffic collision that killed an elderly Hilo woman Big Island Now

Hawaii Island police have arrested a 70-year-old man for first-degree negligent homicide following a traffic collision in Hilo that killed an elderly woman on Tuesday morning.

At 9:51 a.m. on Tuesday, officers responded to a reported traffic collision involving a motor vehicle and a bicyclist on Akolea Road just south of Waianuenue Avenue.

The Hawaii Police Department said investigators determined that a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling south on Akolea Road when it struck an orange Recumbent Trike, which was also traveling south in the southbound lane. The driver of the Tacoma, later identified as 70-year-old Carlton Inada of Hilo, left the scene and proceeded to his residence where he notified police that he had struck a cyclist on Akolea Road.

The operator of the Recumbent Trike has been identified as 79-year-old Barbara Klein of Hilo. She was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Medical Center via ambulance where she was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Inada was located at his residence in his vehicle. He was initially arrested for first-degree negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury. Inada remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station while police continue their investigation.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking anyone who may have witnessed the traffic collision or who has information about it to please contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339, or via email at Jerome.Duarte*hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This is the 15th traffic fatality of 2023, compared to 27 traffic fatalities this time last year.

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A Hilo man, 70 year-old Carlton Inada, has been arrested and charged in relation to a traffic fatality that occurred on Oct. 3 on Akolea Road.

Inada is scheduled to make his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in Hilo District Court. He remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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.

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70-year-old facing negligent homicide charge after deadly crash in Hilo Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU - A 70-year-old Hawaii Island man has been arrested for first-degree negligent homicide following a traffic collision in Hilo that killed an elderly woman on Tuesday morning.

Hawaii Island police say the incident happened just before 10 a.m. when officers responded to a reported traffic collision involving a truck and a bicyclist on Akolea Road just south of Waianuenue Avenue.

Police investigators say that a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling southbound on Akolea Road when it struck an orange recumbent trike, also traveling south in the southbound lane.

Officials say the driver of the Tacoma, later identified as 70-year-old Carlton Inada of Hilo, left the scene and proceeded to his residence, where he notified police that he had struck a cyclist on Akolea Road.

Police say the operator of the recumbent trike has been identified as 79-year-old Barbara Klein of Hilo.

Klein was found unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Medical Center via ambulance, where she was pronounced dead just before 11 a.m., said police.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Officials say Inada was located at his residence inside his vehicle.

Police say he was initially arrested for first-degree negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury.

Officials say Inada remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station while police continue their investigation.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is asking anyone who may have witnessed the traffic collision or who has information about it to please contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339, or via email at Jerome.Duarte*hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.


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Bicyclist Killed After Being Hit By Car In Hilo Big Island Video News

A 70-year-old man was arrested for first-degree negligent homicide on Tuesday morning, following a traffic collision in Hilo that killed an elderly female bicyclist.

79-year-old Barbara Klein of Hilo was unresponsive at the scene, police say, and transported to the Hilo Medical Center via ambulance where she was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m.

From the Hawaiʻi Police Department:

This is 15th traffic fatality of 2023, compared to 27 traffic fatalities this time last year.

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Hilo driver arrested after fatal collision with recumbent cyclist Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii island police arrested a 70-year-old man Tuesday morning for first-degree negligent homicide after he allegedly struck a cyclist while driving in Hilo.

At 9:51 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of a traffic collision involving a pickup truck and cyclist on Akolea Road just south of Waianuenue Avenue, police said.

Officers determined that the driver of a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling south on Akolea Road when he struck a woman riding an orange recumbent trike, which was also traveling south.

The driver, later identified as Carlton Inada, 70, of Hilo, allegedly left the scene and proceeded to his residence, where he later notified police he had struck a cyclist on Akolea Road.

The cyclist has been identified as Barbara Klein, 79, of Hilo.

Klein was unresponsive at the scene and taken by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m.

Police found Inada at his residence, still sitting inside his truck, and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury.

He remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station as the investigation continues. An autopsy has been ordered to determine Klein’s cause of death.

Police said this is Hawaii County’s 15th traffic fatality this year compared to 27 at the same time time last year.

Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at 808-961-2339 or Jerome.Duarte*hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.


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70-year-old charged in connection with crash that killed elderly woman in Hilo Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU - A 70-year-old man has been charged in connection with a crash in Hilo that killed an elderly woman on Tuesday morning, prosecutors said.

Carlton Inada, of Hilo, was charged Thursday with second-degree negligent homicide and collisions involving death or serious bodily injury.

Hawaii Island police say the incident happened just before 10 a.m. when officers responded to a reported traffic collision involving a truck and a bicyclist on Akolea Road just south of Waianuenue Avenue.

Police investigators say that a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling southbound on Akolea Road when it struck an orange recumbent trike, also traveling south in the southbound lane.

Officials say the driver of the Tacoma, later identified as Inada, left the scene and proceeded to his residence, where he notified police that he had struck a cyclist on Akolea Road.

Police say the operator of the recumbent trike has been identified as 79-year-old Barbara Klein, of Hilo.

Klein was found unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Medical Center via ambulance, where she was pronounced dead just before 11 a.m.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Officials say Inada was located at his residence inside his vehicle.

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Hilo man charged with negligent homicide after deadly hit-and-run KITV Honolulu

HILO, Hawaii - Hilo prosecutors have arrested and charged a Hilo man in relation to a traffic death that occurred on October 3, 2023.

While driving in his Toyota Tacoma, Carlton Inada, 70, is accused of hitting and killing 79-year-old Barbara Klein of Hilo, who was riding a recumbent bike on Akolea Road. Inada fled the scene and later notified police.

Klein was unresponsive at the scene and was taken to Hilo Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death.

Inada remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Inada was charged with second degree Negligent Homicide (caused the death of another person by operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner) and leaving the scene of an accident involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury. The latter charge 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.

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The case of a 70-year-old Hilo man accused of a fatal-hit-and-run collision last week that killed an elderly Hilo woman is scheduled to face a judge in a higher court today.

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I was very sorry to read this for everyone involved.

 

Hilo driver arrested after fatal collision with recumbent cyclist Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Hawaii island police arrested a 70-year-old man Tuesday morning for first-degree negligent homicide after he allegedly struck a cyclist while driving in Hilo.

At 9:51 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a report of a traffic collision involving a pickup truck and cyclist on Akolea Road just south of Waianuenue Avenue, police said.

Officers determined that the driver of a 2016 Toyota Tacoma was traveling south on Akolea Road when he struck a woman riding an orange recumbent trike, which was also traveling south.

The driver, later identified as Carlton Inada, 70, of Hilo, allegedly left the scene and proceeded to his residence, where he later notified police he had struck a cyclist on Akolea Road.

The cyclist has been identified as Barbara Klein, 79, of Hilo.

Klein was unresponsive at the scene and taken by ambulance to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 10:56 a.m.

Police found Inada at his residence, still sitting inside his truck, and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious bodily injury.

He remains in custody at the Hilo Police Station as the investigation continues. An autopsy has been ordered to determine Klein’s cause of death.

Police said this is Hawaii County’s 15th traffic fatality this year compared to 27 at the same time time last year.

Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at 808-961-2339 or Jerome.Duarte*hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

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HILO-- Prosecutors believe 70 year old Carlton Inada deliberately used his pick-up truck to strike bicyclist Barbara Klein. The judge granted the defense's motion for a mental health examination Friday.


The Hawaii County prosecutor tells Island News that Carlton Inada faces a Class B and Class C felony charge- one for negligent homicide, the other for leaving the scene of a collision.

The charges carry minimum sentences of five and ten years.

According to charging documents, Carlton Inada turned onto Akole Road from Wainuenue, where he fatally struck local Aikido Instructor, Barbara Klein.

After being read his rights at a second afternoon interview on October 3rd, the day of the collision, Inada admitted to having an "unobstructed view" of the road. He told officers of Barbara Klein, who rode a recumbent trike, that she was quote, "just going slow all the time." The charging documents read that Inada made statements that he wanted to teach the bicyclist a lesson.

Inada was just two minutes drive from his home- on a lightly trafficked outer road in Hilo that had a dotted middle line permitting passing.


The class B and Class C felony charges are pursued in the case.

"When somebody does something and it's intentional, that results in a Class A felony- And here, charges may end up being something less," former Prosecutor and Attorney General Doug Chin told Island News. He is not involved in the case. "...that's because the prosecutor is always thinking about the context in which these statements are made," Chin said.

"And thinking about other factors, just besides the words that were said. So what was the person's tone when they said it? How well did they understand their legal rights when they make statements like that?," Chin added.

On Friday, the judge granted the defense's motion to order a mental health examination before proceedings continue in March.

"What is going on with the suspects state of mind? How healthy are they? Do they suffer from any mental challenges?" Chin said, evaluating why the lesser charges may be pursued, "Is there anything like that that would have impacted their level of responsibility when it comes to a serious and sad incident such as this?"

A bail evaluation will go forward in the meantime next month.

Inada's public defender is asking that the $100,000 bail amount be reduced, or consideration be given for supervised release.

Following the proceeding, Klein's family did not wish to speak on camera, but they did say they believe Inada currently is a danger to the public.

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Judge orders bail study in hit-and-run case Hawaii Tribune-Herald

A 70-year-old Hilo man accused of the hit-and-run death of a 79-year-old Hilo woman will remain in the custody of Hawaii Community Correctional Center — at least for now.

Hilo Circuit Judge Peter Kubota on Friday said he wanted an updated bail study for Carlton Inada, who is charged with second-degree negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident for the Oct. 3 collision that killed longtime aikido instructor Barbara Klein while she was riding a recumbent Tricycle on Akolea Road in Hilo.

Deputy Public Defender Kenji Akamu filed a written motion on Dec. 4 requesting supervised release — a form of cashless bail — for Inada, who has, thus far, been unable to post $100,000 bail.

A bail study filed Oct. 9 in Hilo District Court recommended supervised release for Inada, who is a lifelong Big Island resident with no prior criminal record. That document isn’t public.

Akamu’s motion said that if supervised release is granted, Inada would abide by special terms, including a stay-away order from Klein’s family and associates, check-ins with Hawaii Intake Service Center — a Department of Public Safety entity tasked with the supervision of pretrial defendants in the community — a mental health assessment, electronic monitoring and an order to not drive while the case is active.

Inada’s 2016 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was taken into evidence by police after the collision.

“I’m going to ask the Intake Service Center to prepare an updated bail study with these proposed conditions, and if it’s something they can do, I’ll consider it,” Kubota said. “And I understand the circumstances of the case are — as has been explained to me on what happened on that date — not necessarily what was reported in the newspaper.”

According to court documents filed by police, Inada originally said he didn’t see Klein, but after being read his rights, he allegedly told officers he struck Klein intentionally with his truck to teach her a lesson for “just going slow all the time.”

Kubota said if supervised release is granted, he thinks house arrest would be important “except for certain ventures out of the home, but no driving.” He said those ventures would include, in addition to the HISC check-ins, “essentials” such as medical appointments and grocery shopping.

The judge set a hearing for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 27 to consider the motion with an updated assessment by HISC.

Deputy Prosecutor Lucas Burns said the state objects to the motion, and Kubota said arguments would be heard at that hearing.

Akamu also requested for a mental evaluation of Inada by a panel of three mental health professionals to determine his fitness to stand trial and whether Inada had the mental capacity to understand the illegality and wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the incident.

Kubota set a hearing for receiving the doctors’ reports at 10:30 a.m. March 1.

Klein’s husband, Robert, a chiropractor, and two of her daughters, Noa and Rachel, were present during Friday’s hearing.

Robert Klein said the family is “holding up, carrying on.”

Asked what they thought about the possibility of Inada being released from custody, Rachel Klein, also a chiropractor, replied, “I think he’s a danger to the community, and therefore, it’s not a good idea. It’s as simple as that.”

Robert Klein added that if Inada is released, “I think the house arrest is a good idea.”

“The inability to drive is a good idea. And the monitoring bracelet is a good idea. All of those things,” he said.

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