A Kona Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted a Kona woman in relation to a May 2021 crash that killed a man who was a passenger in the vehicle she was driving.
Judy Moa has been charged with second-degree negligent homicide and operating a vehicle after license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
Brian Kamaka Moa, 52, of Washington, died following a two-vehicle collision that occurred on May 15, 2021, on Highway 11 in South Kona.
Responding to a 3:57 p.m. call, police determined that a blue 2007 Ford F-350 pickup driven by Judy Moa was overtaking a black 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck that was traveling northbound about one-tenth mile south of mile marker 88, police said.
The Ford pickup lost control and side-swiped the Nissan pickup causing both vehicles to overturn.
The 52-year-old male passenger of the Ford pickup was transported to the Kona Community Hospital and was pronounced dead at 9:57 p.m.
The 33-year-old female driver of the Nissan pickup and four of her passengers were taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment, police said.
The driver and her passengers were treated and later released.
Judy Moa, the driver of the Ford pickup was injured in the collision and was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment.
She was arrested for negligent homicide and operating a vehicle after license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
She was released pending further investigation.
On Wednesday, a bench warrant for Judy Moa’s arrest was issued with bail set at $5,000.
Second-degree negligent homicide is a Class C felony that can carry a sentence up to five years in prison and $10,000 in fines.
Operating a vehicle after license and privilege have been suspended or revoked for operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.