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A Hawaii County worker who was driving a county vehicle with a suspended license has been arrested and charged with hitting a bicyclist in Kona last week.
Big Island police said Chris Michael Domino, 34, was charged with inattention to driving, second-degree negligent injury and driving with a suspended license, after hitting Jim Gustin of Kailua-Kona last Wednesday.
Domino was released on $1,500 bail.
Warren Lee, county public works director, said Domino did not inform his department, where he is a plans examiner, that his license has been suspended.
Lee said the county is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident and any conditions surrounding the license suspension.
Domino was on his way to work when the accident occurred and will remain on the job while the matter is under investigation.
Big Island police said the accident occurred at 6:23 a.m. on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Gustin, a personal trainer, said he was knocked unconscious and is now bedridden with three broken vertebrae and a broken right arm.
Gustin said he was told after he awoke in the Kona Hospital’s emergency room that he was struck from behind by Domino, who apparently turned into the highway from Kaiwi Street.
He said the bike route is one of many that he takes and was on “a pleasure ride” last week. He said the conditions on the road were good at the time of the accident.
The state Judiciary’s online traffic records system lists Domino with 15 traffic violations ranging from safety-check and seat-belt violations to speeding. His license was suspended in January.
