A 21-year-old Naalehu man recently pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and injury charges stemming from a 2008 Ka’u traffic crash that killed a 12-year-old boy. A 21-year-old Naalehu man recently pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and injury charges
A 21-year-old Naalehu man recently pleaded not guilty to negligent homicide and injury charges stemming from a 2008 Ka’u traffic crash that killed a 12-year-old boy.
Kevin R. Galigo pleaded not guilty Feb. 28 to one count each first-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury in connection with the Nov. 11, 2008, crash that left Naalehu resident Blaycen Jara dead and another man injured, according to 3rd Circuit Court records. He was indicted by a Big Island grand jury on Feb. 17.
3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra set Galigo’s jury trial to commence at 9 a.m. on June 26. A motion to change the trial date was subsequently filed by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Burleson and will be heard on Wednesday before Ibarra.
According to police, Jara was one of two passengers in a sedan driven by Galigo on Kamaoa Road when Galigo apparently lost control of the vehicle and then hit a utility pole and overturned. Galigo was 17 years old at the time.
Jara and Galigo were transported to Kona Community Hospital where Jara died several hours later. The other passenger, an 18-year-old Naalehu man, was transported to Hilo Medical Center for treatment.
None was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to police.
First-degree negligent homicide is a class B felony punishable by a fine up to $25,000 and 10 years imprisonment, according to Hawaii Revised Statutes. First-degree negligent injury is a class C felony that carries a maximum fine of $10,000 and five years imprisonment.
