Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 20, 2024, police officers at the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) responded to a crowd of people at the Fagatogo Pavilion who witnessed a hit and run of an old man.

The defendant was reported to have fled the scene but was later apprehended and charged with the following:

Count 1: Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol Causing Bodily Injury — a class D felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of $5,000, or both;

Count 2: Careless Driving — a class B misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of $5,000, or both;

Count 3: Failure to Remain at Scene of Accident- Injury — a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both; and,

Count 4: Immediate Notice of Accident — a class B misdemeanor punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

According to the affidavit, on April 20, 2024 at about 7:02 p.m, while at the FPS, police officers observed a large group of people at the pavilion running towards the main highway. Police officers mounted on motorcycle units and responded to the scene. While approaching the scene, people were waving down the officers and yelling that the vehicle that hit the old man had fled heading west.

According to the witnesses, the description of the vehicle was a white pick-up truck with an AC company logo all over it. The vehicle was located at the Gataivai Public Highway.

A strong odor [affidavit does not identify the odor] emitted from the driver and within the vehicle but the Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) was canceled at the scene due to the weather.

The vehicle was then impounded to the FPS where the SFST was conducted. The defendant failed all 3 SFST’s. Later, the driver (defendant) submitted to a chemical test of his breath which resulted in a BAC of .267%.

According to the affidavit, there is also a witness to confirm the suspect was driving at around 5:00 p.m, while highly intoxicated.

The defendant also admitted during his interrogation that he was consuming alcohol at the Pavilion bus stop in Fagatogo. When he left the bus stop, he was focused on the concert at the Pavilion and was not paying attention to the highway. As a result, he did not see the pedestrian crossing at the crosswalk and he hit the pedestrian.

The victim is said to have sustained a deep laceration to the right elbow along with multiple abrasions.

At approximately 8:11 p.m, the defendant was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility for confinement and to await the next sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 38 year-old citizen of Samoa.