Driver in Pahoa fatal crash charged with manslaughter – West Hawaii Today

Hawaii Island police have charged the driver of a sedan involved in a crash that killed a motorcyclist Wednesday in Pahoa with manslaughter.

Kade Smith, a 36-year-old Pahoa man, has also been charged with first-degree negligent homicide, DUI, and driving after license was suspended for DUI and without insurance.

According to police, Smith was makai-bound driving a 2006 Toyota Camry on Kahakai Boulevard in Pahoa and attempted to make a left turn onto Niuhi Street when his sedan was struck by a mauka-bound Honda CBR600F motorcycle ridden by 30-year-old Korey Palmerton of Pahoa.

Palmerton, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was unresponsive at the scene and was later pronounced dead at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.

Manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison upon conviction, while first-degree negligent homicide is a Class B felony that carries a potential 10-year prison sentence. Smith, whose bail was set at $553,060, can only be convicted of one of the two offenses.

He’s currently being held at the Hilo Police Station pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday.

Police ask anyone with information regarding this collision to please contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiipolice.gov. Tipsters may also call the department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.