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Blood-alcohol level of Makaha crash suspect double legal limit

craig kojima
Potasi Uta Jr. is accused of first-degree negligent homicide and other charges related to a car crash Wednesday that left a child dead and four others injured. Uta made an initial appearance in District Court on Monday.

The alleged driver of a car that crashed into a Makaha bus shelter last week killing a 3-year-old boy and injuring four others had a blood-alcohol content at least twice the legal threshold for drunk driving.

Potasi Uta, Jr.’s blood-alcohol content measured 0.16 more than three hours after the March 28 crash, said Vickie Kapp, deputy city prosecutor.

An Oahu grand jury returned an indictment this afternoon charging Uta, 44, with first-degree negligent homicide, two counts of first-degree negligent injury, two counts of second-degree negligent injury and fleeing the scene of a crash. He remains in custody unable to post $100,000 bail.

Uta is accused of killing 3-year-old Ashton Brown and injuring four members of his family: the boy’s mother, 41; two sisters, 11 and 5; and his 7-year-old brother. The injured went to a hospital in serious or critical condition.

Uta is being held, unable to post $100,000 bond.

 

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