WAILUKU - For leaving an injured bicyclist on the ground while fleeing after a collision in Kihei last year, a 43-year-old man was sentenced to a six-month jail term.
Glen Medeiros Jr. also was placed on five years' probation as part of his sentence Tuesday.
"Anything can happen when you leave a person on the road, including someone else coming and causing further injury and death," 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza told Medeiros. "The law clearly requires that you stop, provide information, render aid.
"You didn't have vehicle insurance and you were driving without a license, so that may have been your motivation. But I'm sure you recognize that is not an excuse. You put yourself in a position where you got yourself in a lot of trouble and you clearly jeopardized someone else."
Medeiros, who also is known as Peewee, had pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of a crash involving substantial bodily injury, driving without a license and having no insurance in the hit-and-run collision at Piilani Highway and Mapu Place at 8:25 p.m. Aug. 28.
Medeiros was driving a green 1995 Ford Taurus south on the highway and was in the left-turn lane at Mapu Place when he went through a red light and began turning onto Mapu Place, according to information filed in court. The car struck bicyclist Edward Gregg, who had a green light and was in the bike lane heading north toward Kahului.
In court Tuesday, Gregg said he had been bicycling daily between his Pukalani residence and his job in Wailea.
During 24 years in the Army, "I pretty much came out unscathed," Gregg said. But when Medeiros ran the red light and hit Gregg, he said he was "emotionally, mentally and physically" affected.
"I haven't been able to do things I've done in the past, things like coaching Pop Warner," he said. "My bike was my stress relief."
He suffered a fractured right wrist, right toe and left kneecap, according to court records.
While he is recovering and expects to ride a bicycle and run again, Gregg said he won't be able to use his injured leg fully. He said he had bills that his insurance didn't cover.
Deputy Prosecutor Cody Minatodani said Medeiros' letter to the court indicated he was "still blame-shifting."
"Ed looked at this defendant and asked him, 'Please help me' while he was on the ground," Minatodani said. "It's sad this defendant couldn't stop and couldn't help."
When police first questioned Medeiros, he said he hadn't been driving the car, according to court records. But after being arrested earlier this year in Kihei for unrelated warrants, Medeiros was questioned by police traffic investigator Gregg Rowe and Sgt. Jamie Becraft and Medeiros admitted being the driver, according to court records.
Medeiros, who reported being homeless for about four months before his arrest, has already served about five months of his jail term.
He was ordered to pay $800 in fines. His driver's license was ordered suspended or revoked for one year.
A hearing to determine the amount of restitution Medeiros owes is scheduled for Aug. 9.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.
