Posted on: Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Hit-run driver gets 10-year prison term

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

An O'ahu man who admitted driving a van that struck and killed a bicyclist on Fort Weaver Road two years ago was sentenced yesterday to 10 years in prison.

The 10-year sentence was for leaving the scene of an accident that involved serious injuries. Circuit Judge Marie Milks also sentenced Alfred J. Willard III to five years on a charge of second-degree negligent homicide. Milks ordered the two prison terms to run concurrently.

Willard pleaded no contest in October to being involved in the hit-and-run death of Theron "Keoki" Nicodemus, 21.

Community tips to police aided the investigation of the March 7, 2001, accident. The victim's relatives also went public to discuss their decision to donate Nicodemus' organs, honoring a wish he had expressed earlier.

The accident occurred at 12:45 a.m. when Nicodemus was hit from behind by a van, whose driver then fled.

Nicodemus, whose girlfriend was pregnant with their son, worked at a warehouse in Mapunapuna. He had visited a friend in Pearl City after work and was on his way home when he was hit by the van.