Police release suspect in fatal crash

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The suspect in a one-car crash Saturday night that killed a 22-year-old Puna woman was released from custody, police said.

The suspect in a one-car crash Saturday night that killed a 22-year-old Puna woman was released from custody, police said.

Gary A. Simpkins, 22, of Pahoa was released Tuesday pending further investigation.

Police believe Simpkins lost control of a Honda sedan and ran off Nanawale Boulevard just west of Donneybrook Lane at about 8:20 p.m. Saturday night.

A back-seat passenger, 22-year-old Shyla Medeiros-Dutton of Pahoa, was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene, police said.

The front seat passenger, a 22-year-old Puna man, was taken to Hilo Medical Center and treated and released for unspecified injuries.

Police say Simpkins fled from the scene. He was arrested Sunday in Hawaiian Paradise Park on suspicion of manslaughter, negligent homicide, negligent injury, failure to render information and aid, failure to notify authorities of the crash and leaving the scene.