KAILUA-KONA — The driver of an SUV that reportedly struck and killed a veteran of the Hawaii Fire Department last month was indicted by a Kona grand jury.
The jury on June 10 indicted 21-year-old Christopher Raymond Helmlinger of Waimea on charges of manslaughter and second-degree negligent homicide in connection with the May 22 crash that took the life of David Mahon, a 49-year-old Kailua-Kona resident who had a lengthy career with the fire department.
A preliminary hearing set for Monday in Kona District Court is now moot, and the case will be heard by Kona Circuit Judge Melvin H. Fujino in Kealakekua. As of press time Wednesday, no date had been set for Helmlinger to enter a plea to the charges.
Helmlinger remains out of police custody, having previously posted bail of $100,000 two days after the fatal crash on Mamalahoa Highway, near the boundary of the North Kona and South Kohala districts.
Mahon, an 18-year veteran of the Hawaii Fire Department who earlier this year became a fire captain in Hilo, died May 22 after the motorcycle he was riding collided head-on with a white Honda Pilot SUV driven by Helmlinger near mile marker 14.
Police say Helmlinger was overtaking several southbound vehicles in a no-passing zone at the time of the crash. A third vehicle, a white Jeep Grand Cherokee, was also involved in the wreck. Neither Helmlinger nor the driver of the Jeep required medical attention.
Manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment upon conviction, while second-degree negligent homicide is a Class C felony that carries a potential five-year prison term.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/dylan039s-future-fundin-loving-memory-of-dave-mahon) set up Friday to support Mahon’s 10-year-old son, Dylan, has raised thousands of dollars.
“Dylan’s Future Fund — In Loving Memory of Dave Mahon” as of 1:50 p.m. Wednesday had raised more than $24,000 of its now-$35,000 goal.
Email Chelsea Jensen at cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com.
