A 25-year-old Pahoa woman accused of killing a Hilo pedestrian in a hit-and-run incident over the weekend had more three times the legal amount of alcohol in her system.
According to court documents filed by police, Sienna Tavares-Brown’s blood-alcohol content was found to be 0.272% during a breathalyzer test. The legal threshold for intoxication is 0.08%.
She also was taken to Hilo Medical Center for a voluntary blood draw, the documents state. The blood test results were not in the documents.
Police say Tavares-Brown was driving an eastbound 2006 Honda Element SUV at about 8:18 p.m. Saturday when she struck a pedestrian in a bus stop across from Hilo Brewing Co. on East Kawili Street and continued without stopping or rendering aid.
She then allegedly made a right turn on Kanoelehua Avenue, striking a pedestrian crossing signal before continuing Puna bound.
Documents state Tavares-Brown’s front bumper and license plate were found at the first collision site.
Police apprehended her a short time later. According to the documents, she was at the wheel of her partially stalled vehicle at the intersection of Kanoelehua and Kawailani Street with two daughters, ages 5 and 2, unrestrained in the back seat.
Several opened cans of Truly Hard Seltzer allegedly were found in the car.
The pedestrian, 57-year-old Eric Mabuni of Hilo, was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center in critical condition with a fractured skull and ribs, plus bleeding in his brain and around his lungs. He was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he died at 3:26 a.m. Monday.
Mabuni’s death is the 15th Big Island traffic fatality of 2024, compared to six at the same time last year. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Tavares-Brown was charged with first-degree negligent homicide, DUI, driving after having her license suspended for DUI, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, leaving the scene of an accident causing property damage, and two counts each of second-degree reckless endangering and child passengers not properly restrained.
The two most serious offenses, negligent homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal collision, are both Class B felonies carrying a potential 10-year prison sentence, upon conviction.
Neither she nor her daughters were injured in the collisions.
Tavares-Brown elected to make a statement to police after being read her Miranda rights.
She allegedly told officers she had been drinking alcohol throughout the day, that she was aware that she had struck a pedestrian in a bus stop area and left the scene. Documents state she told police she was driving almost 60 mph when she made the left turn off Manono Street onto Kawili before hitting Mabuni.
Tavares-Brown also was allegedly aware that she had struck the crosswalk signal pole at the corner of Kawili and Kanoelehua, and had driven south until her vehicle became disabled.
At Tavares-Brown’s initial court appearance Tuesday, Hilo District Judge Jeffrey Hawk made it clear he wasn’t going to consider freeing her on a cashless-bail release.
Hawk made that pronouncement before any motion regarding the bail status for Sienna Tavares-Brown could be made, based on a bail report made by the Judiciary’s Intake Service Center that Hawk said “does not recommend supervised release.”
“Given the allegations in the case, I do have public safety concerns regarding Ms. Tavares-Brown,” Hawk said.
The judge maintained Tavares-Brown’s bail at $158,000 and ordered her to return for a preliminary hearing at 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
Potential witnesses or anyone with information about the case are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.