KAILUA-KONA — A man accused of driving under the influence of alcohol and striking a pedestrian with his vehicle in December pleaded not guilty Friday in Kona Circuit Court.
Nicholas Martin, 68, faces charges of first-degree negligent injury, second-degree assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, two counts of DUI, no car insurance, inattention to driving and accident by striking an unattended vehicle or property in connection with the Dec. 1, 2017, incident.
He was released on $12,000 bail. A jury trial is scheduled for May 1.
According to police, Martin was traveling north on Alii Drive in Kona when he veered off the road and struck a 51-year-old man in front of Royal Kahili Condos.
Martin was already facing DUI charges before the auto-pedestrian crash.
On Nov. 30, 2017, he was arrested after striking a parked vehicle on Lako Street in Kona, according to Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner.
He was charged with DUI in that incident and posted $500 bail and was released.
Wagner said Martin appeared to still have a driver’s license when the auto-pedestrian crash occurred hours later. However, two different vehicles were involved in the crashes.
According to court records, Martin’s driver’s license was revoked for one year on Dec. 7, 2017, in connection with the Nov. 30 crash.
Another tag and release. Deport this public hazard.