Big Island man indicted after pedestrian struck at Old Kona Airport in May dies

A Kona Grand Jury indicted a man from Ocean View in connection with a collision at Old Kona Airport Park on May 30, where a man was struck by a vehicle and later died.

On Wednesday, Janne Labin, 24, was indicted on charges of manslaughter, first-degree negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. He is currently being held at the Kealakehe Police Station cellblock after bail was set at $150,000.

Labin remains in custody as he has been unable to post bail, according to a press release from Hawai‘i Island police. He is scheduled to appear in Third Circuit Court in Kona on Thursday morning for an arraignment and plea.

Labin was initially arrested when the crash occurred last month and charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, first-degree negligent injury and reckless driving.

Officers responded to the collision at 7:28 p.m. Through the course of their investigation, they determined that Labin, who was driving south in a white 2017 Toyota Tacoma pickup on the airport’s former runway, veered off the paved portion onto an unfinished gravel area and struck a 59-year-old man who was walking south on the unpaved portion of the runway.

Labin appeared in Kona District Court for an initial appearance on June 2, where Judge Kimberly Tsuchiya reduced his bail from $13,000 to $2,500. He posted bail later that day.

The pedestrian was transported by Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel to Kona Community Hospital before being airlifted to The Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu for further treatment.

Hospital personnel later notified the Hawai‘i Police Department that the man succumbed to his injuries on June 4.

The victim has not been identified by police.