Prosecutors yesterday dropped charges against a man accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl after the two were involved in a traffic accident.

Ikaika Stone, 24, faced charges of kidnapping, first-degree sex assault and third-degree sex assault after allegedly forcing the girl to have sex with him after their vehicles collided. The charges were dismissed prior to a preliminary hearing that was to be held in District Court yesterday.

A preliminary hearing had been set for yesterday, but the charges were dismissed before it began, said Jim Fulton, executive assistant to prosecuting attorney Peter Carlisle.

The victim told police the assault occurred after a car she was driving collided with Stone's pickup truck the night of July 31 in Mo'ili'ili.

He allegedly demanded money and sex from her, took her against her will to Kaimuki High School and sexually assaulted her there, according to court documents.

Fulton would not discuss reasons for the dismissal but said for a case to move forward there must be probable cause and proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

Stone is on probation for a 2004 robbery conviction and is awaiting trial on charges brought in 2007 of first- and second-degree assault.

He is scheduled to appear in Circuit Court Sept. 22 for trial on those charges before Judge Michael Town.

The charges stem from an Oct. 10, 2007, incident in which he allegedly attacked a 72-year-old man, who suffered a concussion, a ruptured ear drum and serious bodily injuries, Fulton said.