State v. Sakoda

This is an appeal by the appellant who was convicted in the District Court of the Third Circuit of the offense of leaving the scene of an accident in violation of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS) § 291C-13.

The single issue raised on appeal is whether conviction under HRS § 291C-13 is proper when there is evidence that personal injury resulted from a motor vehicle accident.

We think not and reverse appellant’s conviction.

The evidence shows that Appellant Sakoda’s vehicle struck the vehicle being driven by Duane Lewis. In the auto with Lewis were his wife and infant. Their vehicle was totally…