Police ID victim, arrest alleged driver in fatal hit and run

Police have arrested an alleged hit-and-run driver and identified the motorcyclist killed in a Thursday afternoon collision in Pahoa.

Gaelynn Kahee, 28, of Pahoa, turned herself in shortly before 8 p.m. at the Pahoa police station and was arrested on suspicion of second-degree negligent homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving without a license. She is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while officers continue investigating.

The victim, who died at the scene of the collision on the Pahoa bypass portion of Highway 130, has been identified as 39-year-old Ernest Jackson of Pahoa.

Officers responding to a 2:52 p.m. call determined Kahee’s southbound 1991 Nissan pickup on Highway 130 failed to yield right-of-way and made a left turn onto Highway 132. The truck was broadsided by Jackson’s northbound 1996 Yamaha motorcycle traveling through the intersection on Highway.

Kahee and her passenger, whom police say is a 25-year-old man, fled the scene. Neither was injured.

Jackson, who was not wearing a helmet, died at the scene. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Police don’t think speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Witnesses are asked to call Officer Keith Nacis at 961-2339 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

Jackson’s death is the 24th official traffic fatality this year compared to 15 at this time last year. There have also been four vehicle-related deaths this year police don’t count toward the official total because two occurred on private property and two in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.