BREAKING: Arrest Made in Fatal Paia Hit-and-Run

By Wendy Osher

A Paia man was arrested today for suspected involvement in the fatal hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a pedestrian along the Paia Bypass Road on Sunday night.

Dionicio F. Pagala, 73, was arrested today on suspicion of Accidents Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury, and was subsequently released pending further investigation, according to police.

The arrest follows a hit-and-run fatality reported at 8:16 p.m. on Sunday along the Paia Bypass Road, just west of Baldwin Avenue.

During the incident, the body of an adult male was found lying within the middle of the road. An initial investigation revealed that the man appeared to have been struck by a vehicle that was traveling east on the bypass road.

Authorities have since used fingerprints to positively identify the pedestrian as 56-year-old Gregory Lee King of Paia.

According to police reports, Vehicle Homicide Investigator Officer Dukie Racadio, located a silver 2003 Mitsubishi Galant belonging to Pagala, in Skill Village at around 9:15 this morning.  A search was initiated for a vehicle of the same type and description in the hours following Sunday’s fatal crash.

According to police reports released today, the vehicle was found to be involved with the crash. Although Pagala was arrested, authorities say charges have not been filed at this time.

The involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol has not been determined, as the investigation is still pending.

The incident was Maui County’s 19th traffic fatality this year, compared to 12 at the same time last year.