KAILUA-KONA — Two Kailua-Kona residents were arrested on charges they were driving the same vehicle while drunk.
Harrington Nashion, 18, and his girlfriend, Luanne Francis, 20, were involved in an accident near mile marker 7 on Highway 190 on Saturday, resulting in the doubled-up DUI.
Nashion was in the driver’s seat at the time of the accident, but Francis grabbed the wheel before it occurred, resulting in both parties being cited for the drunken driving infraction, wrote Chris Loos, Hawaii Police Department spokeswoman.
What led Francis to allegedly grab the wheel wasn’t shared, nor were other details surrounding the single-vehicle accident that happened in the afternoon and also resulted in an assault on an officer charge for Nashion.
As far as the driving infractions, both Nashion and Francis were charged with driving without a license, driving without no-fault insurance, driving with an open liquor container, inattentive driving and possession of liquor by a minor.
Nashion was also charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant while under the age of 21, while Francis was charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant.
When officers responded to the accident, Nashion allegedly pushed Francis at an officer, raised his hand “in a striking position” and lunged at the officer, police said.
The assault charge was reduced to second-degree assault on a police officer, who is now back at work.
Nashion was out of police custody for only hours prior to the accident after being arrested on Thursday on a warrant alleging contempt of court. He was also charged with driving without a license and driving without no-fault insurance.
He was held in jail for a day before appearing in court. He pleaded no contest to the contempt of court charge and was sentenced to time served and $80 in fines and costs.
He had pleaded no contest to a fourth-degree theft charge on Feb. 26, given credit for two days in jail and ordered to pay $50 in fines and court costs. According to court records, he had not paid off the balance.
Nashion’s bond was set at $3,275 after a hearing in front of Kona District Court Judge Margaret Masunaga.