A 38-year-old Kailua-Kona man is facing a number of charges in connection with a one-car crash June 21 at the intersection of Coral Parkway and Ginger Blossom Lane in Ocean View that killed a 31-year-old woman passenger.
Bernard K. Antoque is charged with manslaughter, second-degree negligent homicide, third-degree promotion of a harmful drug, marijuana possession, driving after license suspended and without insurance, unsafe vehicle, false safety inspection certificate and contempt of court.
According to police, at about 4:36 a.m. June 21, Antoque was at the wheel of a 2002 gold Chrysler PT Cruiser, traveling west on Coral Parkway, ran a stop sign at the corner of Ginger Blossom Lane and overturned in a lava field.
A passenger, Angel Nohelani Lealoha Ano of Pahoa, was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she died at 1:36 p.m.
Antoque was also hospitalized at the Kona hospital, but has since been released.
During Antoque’s initial court appearance Wednesday, Deputy Public Defender Donna Davis requested Antoque be freed on court-supervised release without monetary bail.
Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye told Kona District Judge Margaret Masunaga that a higher bail amount is warranted for the offenses charged, but requested Antoque’s bail remain at $3,000.
Masunaga maintained Antoque’s $3,000 bail and ordered him to appear at 3 p.m. Monday for a preliminary hearing.
Manslaughter is a Class A felony that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years upon conviction, while second-degree negligent homicide is a Class C felony with a maximum five-year prison term. Antoque can be convicted of one or the other, but not both charges in connection with Ano’s death.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
