Christian Lipka dies in fatal Kona pedestrian collision
Fatal Kona pedestrian collision death of Christian Lipka – Obituary
Early Monday morning, authorities were alerted after a driver reportedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Kona before fleeing the scene.
The incident involved a green 2015 Subaru Forester, which was abandoned shortly after the collision.
The pedestrian, identified as 38-year-old Christian Lipka from Kailua-Kona, was hit near the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and the Kaloko and Honokohau area in North Kona.
Police traced the vehicle’s registration to 34-year-old Garrett Aadom Duran of Keauhou.
They contacted Duran, who was found at the end of Kanalani Street, roughly a block from the crash site. Witnesses had described the person seen leaving the scene as a disheveled, long-haired white man in shorts and a gray tank top.
When officers arrived, Duran appeared unsteady, had slurred speech, red, watery eyes, and the smell of alcohol on him. He refused to take a sobriety test.
Subsequently, he was arrested, and his blood was tested by Clinical Labs of Hawaii under a warrant.
Duran, previously residing in Ontario, California, and holding a California driver’s license, faces multiple charges: first-degree negligent homicide, DUI, leaving the scene of an accident with death or serious injury, and driving without insurance.
Lipka, who passed away at Kona Community Hospital shortly after the collision, had recently relocated to Kona from Hilo, previously lived in Kahului, Maui, and was originally from Hollywood, Florida. He had described himself as a “digital creator” on his Facebook page.
While Duran has no felony convictions, he does have a prior DUI offense. Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen noted that the negligent homicide charge, in combination with the previous DUI, is a Class A felony, which could lead to a maximum 20-year prison sentence. The charge for leaving the scene is a Class B felony, with a possible 10-year prison term.
During Duran’s first court appearance, Deputy Public Defender Lezlie Kiaha recommended supervised release, a form of cashless bail, based on a report by the Intake Service Center. However, Deputy Prosecutor Matthew Woodward requested that Judge Mahilani Hiatt keep Duran’s bail set at $106,000. Judge Hiatt agreed to maintain the bail amount and scheduled a preliminary hearing for Friday.
Fatal Kona pedestrian collision death of Christian Lipka – Obituary Early Monday morning, authorities were alerted after a driver reportedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Kona before fleeing the scene. The incident involved a green 2015 Subaru Forester, which was abandoned shortly after the collision. The pedestrian, identified as 38-year-old Christian Lipka from Kailua-Kona,…
Fatal Kona pedestrian collision death of Christian Lipka – Obituary Early Monday morning, authorities were alerted after a driver reportedly struck and killed a pedestrian in Kona before fleeing the scene. The incident involved a green 2015 Subaru Forester, which was abandoned shortly after the collision. The pedestrian, identified as 38-year-old Christian Lipka from Kailua-Kona,…