KEALAKEKUA — A mental health evaluation has been ordered for an Alaska woman accused of attempted murder after police say she hit her boyfriend with a rental car last week.
Crystal Young, 30, appeared in District Court on Monday for an arraignment and plea on several charges connected to the incident, which occurred Friday.
Hawaii Police Maj. Robert Wagner said officers responded to the runway area of Old Kona Airport Park, where they reportedly determined Young had been involved in a domestic dispute with her boyfriend, a 36-year-old man, also visiting from Alaska.
Young was reportedly “driving reckless, doing doughnuts with the vehicle,” said Wagner, while the man was outside the vehicle.
While operating a black sedan, Young allegedly drove straight for the man and struck him, causing significant injuries to his body and head.
After striking the man with the vehicle, police say, Young drove to the dead end side of the park and fled on foot into the brush area where she was later located by authorities.
Young’s boyfriend was taken to Kona Community Hospital before being flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu. As of Monday afternoon, the victim remained in critical condition.
Young’s defense counsel, Andrew Kennedy, told District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga Monday morning that his client’s mental health may have been affecting her at the time of the incident.
Masunaga granted a mental health examination. A review hearing of that examination is scheduled for Jan. 17.
Young was charged with second-degree attempted murder, abuse of a family member, reckless endangering, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to render aid. Bail was set at $281,000.
Masunaga denied the bail reduction request.
