A Kailua-Kona woman on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a negligent homicide charge stemming from a 2009 fatal crash at the Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road intersection.
A Kailua-Kona woman on Tuesday pleaded guilty to a negligent homicide charge stemming from a 2009 fatal crash at the Kuakini Highway and Hualalai Road intersection.
Veronica Mercado-Santana entered her plea to one count second-degree negligent homicide before 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance. Strance set her sentencing for 4 p.m. Oct. 2 in Kona.
The negligent homicide charge stems from the Feb. 6, 2009, death of 29-year-old Steven L. Carvalho of Kailua-Kona according to a 3rd Circuit Court complaint filed Jan. 26 by Hawaii County Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Taniyama.
Carvalho was operating a 2003 Suzuki motorcycle and traveling north on Kuakini Highway when a southbound 2006 Toyota van driven by Mercado-Santana apparently failed to yield the right-of-way to Carvalho and made a left turn in front of the motorcycle, according to police.
Carvalho, who was not wearing a helmet, was transported to Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to police.