LIHUE — A second person involved in the fatal accident at the Rice Street crosswalk was arraigned this week on charges of negligent homicide. Tierra Sekk Aiolupotea, 35, appeared before Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe Tuesday with her attorney
LIHUE — A second person involved in the fatal accident at the Rice Street crosswalk was arraigned this week on charges of negligent homicide.
Tierra Sekk Aiolupotea, 35, appeared before Fifth Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe Tuesday with her attorney Eric Seitz, who had just received a copy of the Dec. 17 indictment. She pleaded not guilty.
The state requested that the trial be set for the same date as the co-defendant, Derreck Agan, who is also on the indictment.
Their trial date was set for May 2. Agan is charged with negligent homicide in the first degree.
Seitz noted he had a trial on Honolulu and that he couldn’t be two places at once. He also asked that the court allow Aiolupotea to be released on her own recognizance so she could take care of booking with KPD.
Aiolupotea of Honolulu is charged with negligent homicide in the second degree and accidents involving death or serious bodily injury for allegedly fleeing the scene of an Oct. 7, 2014 accident when 60-year-old Paulanna Larish was struck at the marked crosswalk at Rice Street.
As she crossed the street about 6:15 a.m. by the Lihue post office, a dark gray Toyota Tacoma driven by Agan allegedly hit her, police said.
The man got out of his car and tried to help her. As he was doing so, a dark blue Mercury Mountaineer drove past the crosswalk and also allegedly struck Larish, who died at the scene.
Aiolupotea didn’t stop and was tracked down three days later by police.
Agan appeared before Circuit Court Judge Randal Valenciano on Dec. 29.
