Federal prosecutors appear to have worked out a plea deal with the alleged driver in a fatal one-vehicle crash at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park in May.
Kenneth Ewing, 43, of Pahoa had been charged with first-degree negligent homicide for causing the death of one of his passengers May 28. The charge carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence under state law.
The U.S. attorney filed a new court document Friday charging Ewing with involuntary manslaughter under federal law. The charge carries a maximum eight-year prison term.
The National Park Service said Ewing had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.312, nearly four times the legal threshold for drunken driving, after he caused his pickup truck to roll over on Highway 11, ejecting his two passengers from the vehicle. One of the passengers, a 48-year-old man, was pinned under the truck and pronounced dead at the scene.
Kauai
Man who died while fishing with friends is identified
A man who died while kayak fishing in waters off Port Allen on Sunday morning has been identified as Steven Baumgardner, 68, of Kalaheo.
According to a preliminary investigation, Baumgardner was kayaking with several friends when he was found facedown and unresponsive in the water, with his kayak overturned.
Fire crews were notified shortly after 7:30 a.m. that a nearby fishing boat was bringing the body and kayak to the Port Allen Small Boat Harbor.
Police, firefighters and medics responded to the scene. Baumgardner was then transported to Wilcox Morgue.
An autopsy is pending but foul play is not suspected. The investigation remains ongoing, police said.
Maui
South Kihei Road resurfacing to last through Nov. 2
Resurfacing work began Monday along South Kihei Road that will contra-flow night traffic in the area for a little less than two weeks.
The work will last until Nov. 2, weather permitting. Work includes paving, readjusting manholes and water valves, and pavement striping.
Hours will be from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. One lane of traffic will be open during work hours.
The contractor for the $526,233 project is Maui Kupono Builders LLC.
County to auction properties with delinquent taxes
Maui County will auction off properties that have fallen behind on their taxes on Nov. 14 and possibly also Nov. 15.
The auction by the county Department of Finance will sell properties that have been delinquent for three years or more.
The tax sale will be held at Kihei Community Center, 303 E. Lipoa St. in Kihei. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m., with the auction beginning at 9:30 a.m.
As of last week there were two properties on the block, but they could be removed if all taxes, penalties, interest and costs are paid by the date of the sale.
Information on the tax sale can be found on the Maui County website at 808ne.ws/MauiTaxSale. The list has also been posted at the Real Property Tax Collections office at the Maui Mall Service Center, Suite A-18; Kalana o Maui; Hoapili Hale; the Molokai Real Property Tax Office; and the Lanai Senior Center.
