The mother of Sara Yara said she objected to a plea deal for the alleged driver in a hit-and-run incident that killed her 16-year while she was walking to school in a crosswalk one February morning in 2023.
Chevylyn Borce said when presented with a possible 10-year sentence in exchange for Mitchel Miya shiro’s guilty plea to first-degree negligent homicide, she rejected the idea, instead holding out hope for a conviction and a 20-year sentence.
“He asked for 10 years, and I said ‘no, ’” Borce said. “My daughter’s not here anymore. He doesn’t look like he has any remorse. Her daughter’s twin, Phoebe, said, ‘No.’”
“He walks into court like he didn’t do anything wrong, my daughter (Phoebe Yara ) said. And to go through all of this, knowing what he did and still trying to prolong the case, it just hurts everybody … . There’s no closure.”
Miyashiro was scheduled Friday to change his not guilty pleas on four counts of an indictment without a plea deal, but on Thursday it was taken off the court’s calendar. No hearing was held Thursday and no explanation was given on the court’s minutes, except that it will be rescheduled to a later date or for a further trial call, meaning that it would be back on track for trial.
He also was indicted on charges of collisions involving death or serious bodily injury, collisions involving bodily injury for injury to another girl, and driving without a license.
Miyashiro’s trial had been scheduled this week, but the defense said at an Aug. 21 hearing it was waiting to receive medical records from a doctor at The Queen’s Medical Center.
“Defense will review (the records ) and barring anything special, defendant will change his plea to guilty as charged on all counts with no deal, ” the Aug. 21 court minutes say.
Borce, who has made it a point to attend all Miyashiro’s court hearings, was present at the Aug. 21 hearing that lasted two minutes before Judge Trish Morikawa.
She said those records are Miyashiro’s own medical rec ords to which the defense is referring.
Miyashiro’s deputy public defender did not return a call from the Honolulu Star-Advertiser asking what rec ords they were awaiting and how they might affect Miya shiro’s decision to change his plea.
Borce said that she attends every hearing because “it helps to show I’m here to support even though Sara’s no longer here. I’m not going to just let this go.”
What drew the ire of the community at the time of Miyashiro’s initial arrest was that he had racked up 164 prior traffic citations without serving any jail time.
Her hope for a 20-year term is not unfounded. Hono lulu Prosecutor Steve Alm vowed to invoke “Kaulana’s Law, ” enacted in 2018, which could be used to get a harsher 20-year sentence rather than 10 years for anyone found guilty of negligent homicide and failing to render aid.
“We cannot allow these things to happen, ” she said. “You’ve seen how many (traffic ) deaths we’ve had this year, how many hit-and-runs we’ve had this year.”
“If we don’t do anything about it, it’s going to continue on, ” Borce said. “This is my way of doing something about it. This is in honor of Sara. She didn’t just die in vain.
“We need to keep our streets safe, not just for our kids, ” but for kupuna who no longer drive and walk on the streets, she added.
Borce actively advocates for street safety.
Today she is participating in Mother’s Against Drunk Driving’s annual walk to help raise awareness and support of victims of impaired driving.
Miyashiro had turned himself in to police the day after the fatal crash, so if anything had been in his system the morning of the crash, it may not have been detected, Borce said.
Two weeks ago she participated in Honolulu Police Department’s sign-waving campaign around schools.
She also recently put up new signs with a photo of her daughter as a reminder to slow down.
Yara was killed at the intersection of Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street near McKinley’s athletic field.
Borce said she’s learned from Department of Transportation officials that “we can’t put speed bumps all over the place.”
She also advocates for street awareness, helping students to be aware while walking, not being on their phones.
Her vehicle is airbrushed with cherry blossoms, Yara’s favorite flower, and the message : “Remember Sara Yara. (Heart emoji ) Don’t drive without a license.”
And on the opposite side, “Remember Sara Yara. Please slow down. Speed kills !”
Borce said she will not sue Miyashiro, who was 45 at the time of the crash, nor his parents.
Borce said she empathizes with his parents, who are old now and grieving in their own way.
She also feels for her surviving daughter.
“Her sister died in front of her eyes—not only her sister, but her twin. It’s like another half of her is gone, ” Borce said.
“I wouldn’t want to drag her into another courtroom. She just wants to get over this.”
Phoebe Yara is 19 and will turn 20 in April.
“The year (Sara ) died, she would have made 17, ” Borce said.
“You can imagine every birthday, (Phoebe ) has to celebrate it without her twin, ” Borce said. “It just breaks my heart.”
Borce says she also reaches out to those who are grieving and experiencing loss because they may not have a large support system like she has. Her faith, her church, and support of friends and family have pulled her through the tough times.
Borce said strangers approach her to thank her.
One man said, “I just want to thank you for doing what you’re doing to keep our streets safe.”
“It makes me feel like I’m doing something for Sara, not for me, for her, ” Borce said.