Plea deal for driver in Maui crash that killed 5 friends

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WAILUKU — A Maui man has accepted a plea deal in a crash that killed five of his friends.

WAILUKU — A Maui man has accepted a plea deal in a crash that killed five of his friends.

Libert Kuuipo Qalivere will be prohibited from driving for the rest of his life under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors. Under the deal, manslaughter charges are reduced to first-degree negligent homicide.

Qalivere pleaded no contest to the reduced charges Wednesday.

The Maui News reports the 2012 crash on Kula Highway was the deadliest in more than two decades on Maui.

Prosecutors say Qalivere was drunk when he drove his five friends from a party. All five passengers were ejected from the car after it collided with an oncoming car.

He faces a maximum sentence of 51 years and 65 days in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 12.