Posted on: Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Kaua'i crash suspect faces drug charges

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police say a man whose truck crashed into a motorcycle Saturday, ran over its fallen passenger and fled the scene, was under the influence of drugs and was carrying heroin.

Police arrested Byron Say, 36, of Hanalei, on charges of negligent injury, being responsible for an accident involving serious injury, driving under the influence of drugs, promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia. Say posted bail and has been released from custody.

Deputy Police Chief Ron Venneman said investigators concluded that drug intoxication and excessive speed led to the accident in which a pickup rammed a motorcycle between the Hanalei Bridge and Hanalei town. The motorcycle's female passenger was thrown onto the road, and the truck ran over both the bike and the victim, who suffered severe injuries and was transferred to Honolulu for treatment.

The driver's pickup stopped due to damage received in the accident, and the driver fled into taro fields adjacent to Kuhio Highway. Venneman said Say was arrested 10 to 15 minutes after the 2:30 p.m. accident. Officers recovered a fanny pack containing heroin and drug paraphernalia, he said.

The highway in and out of Hanalei was closed to traffic for nearly five hours as police worked at the scene.

"It was a critical incident with serious injuries, a crime scene just like a homicide. We had to reconstruct what happened, take plots and measurements. Once we start running traffic through, we start losing evidence," Venneman said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.