The 19-year-old driver who crashed his Jeep into a metal guardrail on the H-1 freeway earlier this month, killing his girlfriend and injuring three others, was legally drunk at the time of the accident, according to police.
Devon Shane Keser was charged Friday with first-degree negligent homicide in connection with the Aug. 12 death of Kortney Biton- Schubert.
According to a police affidavit, Keser — also known as Shane Hoover — had a blood alcohol content of 0.13. The legal limit for driving is 0.08. Results of additional drug testing won’t be available for at least a month. Although Keser was arrested for driving under the influence while under the age of 21, that charge was incorporated with more serious offenses.
He also was charged with two counts of second-degree negligent injury: Jade Simpson suffered a fracture to her left shoulder blade, and Benjamin-James Page suffered facial lacerations and a fracture to his left hand.
In addition, Keser is facing one count of first-degree negligent injury to Joshua Tica, who suffered critical injuries causing head and brain damage.
His bail was set at $100,000.
His preliminary hearing will be held Wednesday in District Court.
Simpson, Tica and Biton-Shubert were thrown from the Jeep after Keser lost control of the car in the eastbound lane of the H-1 freeway and struck a guardrail. The vehicle rolled over several times near the Vineyard Boulevard offramp at 9:35 p.m. Aug. 12.
Keser, a military dependent, was arrested Aug. 19 at Tripler Army Medical Center.
Page, in the police affidavit, said Keser had been drinking beer when he picked him up in Ewa, picked up Tica in Pearl City and picked up Simpson in Aliamanu on their way to a rave party in Waikiki.
Page said Simpson was sitting on Biton-Schubert’s lap in the front seat of the Jeep. Page and Tica were in the rear compartment facing the rear of the Jeep with their backs against the seats in the front.
Simpson, in the police affidavit, said “they all took turns drinking vodka and that the radio was on very loud.”
Both Page and Simpson said Keser was speeding before the crash.
Witnesses said that Keser had been weaving his way through freeway traffic and swerved to avoid hitting a car and crashed into the guardrail. The Jeep was propelled on top of the guardrail and severed a metal streetlight pole. After striking the pole, the vehicle rolled over several times, then came to rest on the shoulder and slow lane.
Keser got out of the Jeep and “became emotional” when he realized that one person was dead, said a witness who stopped to offer aid.
