KAILUA-KONA — A Honolulu woman pleaded not guilty to two counts of negligent homicide Tuesday in connection with a double fatal accident that occurred on Queen Kaahumanu Highway two years ago. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — A Honolulu woman pleaded not guilty
KAILUA-KONA — A Honolulu woman pleaded not guilty to two counts of negligent homicide Tuesday in connection with a double fatal accident that occurred on Queen Kaahumanu Highway two years ago.
Rebecca Vetter, 25, was processed for the charges on a grand jury warrant of arrest issued April 4.
On May 9, 2015, Hawaii Police Department reported Vetter was traveling south on the highway at about mile marker 94 when she crossed the center line around 7:30 that evening.
At that point, police state, she side swiped a motorist traveling north then collided head on with a motorcycle carrying one passenger.
The motorcyclist, 47-year-old Kailua-Kona man Rick Dupont, and his passenger, 47-year-old Sean Henshaw of Ocean View, were thrown from the motorcycle on impact. Both were later pronounced dead at the Kona Community Hospital.
At the time, police indicated, Vetter was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide. She was later released pending further investigation.
At the time, police believed Vetter was under the influence when the crash occurred.
The indictment indicates that the suspect was under the influence of a drug that impaired her ability to drive. Hawaii Police Maj. Robert Wagner said police routed the case to the prosecutor’s office on Aug. 8, 2015. However, they declined to charge Vetter at that time.
According to records, Deputy Prosecutor Charles Murray said the reason there was a delay in the filed charges was because the prosecutor’s office had follow up inquires with police, requesting further interviews with witnesses and pulling of 911 tapes.
A pre-trial conference has been set for June 29.
