KAILUA-KONA — A 21-year-old Waimea man has been charged with manslaughter in connection with a Wednesday morning three-vehicle crash that killed an 18-year veteran of the Hawaii Fire Department.
Christopher Raymond Helmlinger was charged at 8:20 p.m. Thursday with manslaughter in connection with the crash that left HFD Capt. David Mahon dead, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Helmlinger remains in police custody in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a court appearance today.
Mahon was on his way to work Wednesday morning in East Hawaii, cruising on his purple Harley Davidson and headed Waimea-bound when, police say, a Kona-bound white Honda Pilot driven by Helmlinger entered Mahon’s lane around 6:35 a.m. Mahon, who was wearing a helmet and safety gear, collided head-on with the Honda near mile marker 14 on Mamalahoa Highway, also known as Highway 190, near the North Kona-South Kohala boundary.
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.
Helmlinger was arrested just after the crash on suspicion of manslaughter, excessive speeding of more than 81 mph, reckless driving and inattention to driving, according to police logs.