KAPAA – A 19-year-old Kapaa woman died Thursday night after a head-on crash on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, fronting the Courtyards at Waipouli apartment complex. Police identified the woman as Kayla Huddy-Lemn of Kapaa. Huddy-Lemn was heading north about 10:45
KAPAA – A 19-year-old Kapaa woman died Thursday night after a head-on crash on Kuhio Highway in Kapaa, fronting the Courtyards at Waipouli apartment complex.
Police identified the woman as Kayla Huddy-Lemn of Kapaa.
Huddy-Lemn was heading north about 10:45 p.m. when an oncoming Nissan pickup truck crossed the center line and struck her Mazda sedan, according to a county press release. After the impact the truck continued south about 500 feet until it came to a stop near Kintaro Japanese Restaurant.
Huddy-Lemn was transported to Wilcox Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The driver of the truck sustained non-life threatening injuries.
An on-scene investigation revealed that the Nissan pickup truck was stolen from a home on Makaha Road in Kapaa just moments earlier, the release said.
The driver of truck has been identified as Cody Safadago, 46. Safadago has no known address but is believed to live in the Kalalau Valley and is originally from Washington State.
Following the crash, Safadago fled on foot and was later located by police near the Wailua Shopping Plaza. He was apprehended following a brief struggle and taken to Wilcox Hospital for medical evaluation.
Safadago was later transported to the Lihue police station and arrested on multiple charges, including negligent homicide, accidents involving death, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, resisting arrest, driving without a license, inattention to driving and reckless driving.
His bail has been set at $32,000.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation but speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors, according to the release.
