KAILUA-KONA — A South Kona man was indicted on aggravated vehicular homicide after being involved in a fatal car crash last week in Ravenna Township, Ohio.
Joshua Kalili, 27, of Honaunau is being detained on $1 million bond on charges of two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, kidnapping, abduction and assault on a police officer.
The accident occurred about 11:54 p.m. April 18 after Ohio State Highway Patrol stopped a 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada on State Route 59 for a registration violation. During the interaction with the occupants, “criminal indicators and signs of impairment were observed,” stated the Ohio State Highway Patrol in a press release. A Ravenna police officer was called to assist.
The driver, later identified as Kalili, was asked to exit the car and placed in the backseat of a police cruiser.
“Kalili was observed moving suspiciously and removed from the cruiser,” a press release states. “He began to resist and assault both the trooper and officer.”
Officials say a taser was deployed multiple times on Kalili, however, he was able to flee the scene in the vehicle. The rear passenger of the Bravada was able to get out of the car before the 27-year-old drove off.
A female passenger, later identified as Brianna N. Lewandowski, 22, of Springfield Township, stayed in the vehicle with Kalili.
Kalili fled and traveled onto a private roadway, striking a concrete barrier, resulting in the death of Lewandowski, the release states.
Kalili then fled on foot. He was found about 1:25 a.m. in a nearby mobile home park and taken into custody.
Kalili was indicted by grand jury April 25 in Portage County Court. He pleaded not guilty. A jury trial is scheduled for July 9 in Ohio.
This is not the first time Kalili has fled from authorities. In August 2012, Hawaii Island police reported him as an escapee from the Hale Nani Correctional Center in Hilo. He was found a few days later in Kona. He also has a history of theft, burglary and unauthorized control of a vehicle.
Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.