Update: Judge maintains bail for Kona man facing negligent homicide charge

12:21 p.m. Wednesday update: A Kona District Court judge maintained bail on a Kailua-Kona man facing negligent homicide charges after a pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in North Kona.

Garrett Aadom Duran, 34, made his initial appearance in Kona District Court this morning. He is being held on $106,000 bail.

Duran was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on July 26.

Among the charges, Duran is facing first-degree negligent homicide, a class A felony that carries a 20-year prison term.

The 34-year-old is also facing the offense of accidents involving injury or death, which is a class B felony carrying a penalty of either a 10-year prison term or four years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

Original post: A Kailua-Kona man was officially charged with negligent homicide after a pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in North Kona.

Garrett Aadom Duran, 34, is scheduled to appear this morning in Kona’s District Court on the following charges:

• First-degree negligent homicide
• Accident involving injury or death
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant
• Operating a vehicle without insurance

He is being held on $106,000 bail at the Kealakehe Police Station cellblock.

According to Hawai‘i Island police Duran was under the influence of an intoxicant traveling north on Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway when he hit a 38-year-old man just south of the Kaloko/Honokōhau intersection on July 22.

According to police, Duran, who was driving a green 2015 Subaru Forester, crossed over the fog line and hit the pedestrian. Duran abandoned his vehicle and fled the area. He was located a block away from the crash scene and subsequently arrested.

The pedestrian was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:59 a.m. He has not been positively identified pending notification of next of kin.

As the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit continues its negligent homicide investigation, police ask for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Adam Roberg at 808-326-4646, ext. 229, or email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This is the 21st traffic fatality this year compared to 10 at this time last year.