A Waimea man involved in a collision that killed two former Honokaa High School athletes has received a sentence of 30 days in jail for driving under the influence.
Ronald Ramsey Hayward, who pleaded guilty to the DUI in April, had also faced two counts of negligent homicide, but prosecutors dropped those charges because they were unable to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt, said Deputy Prosecutor Kimberly Taniyama.
The dropping of the charges was prompted by an expert report on the case, Taniyama said. Hayward was sentenced May 7 in front of 3rd Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance.
Hayward, who was required to pay a $1,500 fine and complete a 14-hour alcohol education program, had a blood-alcohol content in excess of 0.08 percent at the time of the accident, according to police.
The sentence stemmed from a collision in the early morning of May 6, 2012 at the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kawaihae Road. Hayward was driving his 2006 Ford F350 pickup truck south on Kawaihae Road when the vehicle struck a 2000 Honda two-door sedan driven by 19-year-old Destin Baquiring of Paauilo. The passengers in the Honda, 19-year-old Kauaheakeokaua Lactaoen of Waimea and 18-year-old Rocky Pactol of Honokaa were thrown from the vehicle. Lactaoen was dead at the scene and Pactol died hours later at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Baquiring was arrested on suspicion of DUI but was not charged.
Pactol’s parents Nadine and Peter Pactol filed a civil suit in February against Hayward and the Seafood Bar in Kawaihae.