KAILUA-KONA — Two individuals have been indicted in connection to separate traffic fatalities dating back to 2017.
A Kona grand jury indicted Stephen Taylor with second-degree negligent homicide for causing the death of 71-year-old Bernadette Chock of Kailua-Kona in a two-vehicle traffic crash on Aug. 17, 2017, on Highway 190, also known as Mamalahoa Highway, just north of Kaiminani Drive.
Responding to a 2:40 p.m. call, police determined that a 2009 Nissan Frontier operated by Taylor had been traveling north on Highway 190 when he crossed left of center and collided head on with a 2007 Honda CR-V being operated by Chock, who was traveling south on Highway 190. Chock was transported to Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 5:52 p.m.
If found guilty, second-degree negligent homicide is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
In a separate indictment, Austin Kembel was charged with first-degree negligent homicide and manslaughter for causing the death of 41-year-old Trina Walker of Holualoa.
Walker, a mother of two small children, was on her way home from work when she died following a three-vehicle crash on March 12, 2018, in North Kona near the 83-mile marker of Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
Responding to a 10:39 p.m. call, police determined that Kembel was operating a 2002 Volvo sedan traveling south on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when he was involved in a rear-end collision with a 2014 Volkswagen sedan driven by Walker, also traveling southbound.
The collision caused the Volkswagen sedan to spin and crossover into the northbound lane of the highway, where the Volkswagen sedan was then rear-ended by a northbound 2013 Honda sedan.
Walker was taken to the Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:57 a.m. March 13.
If convicted, manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Bench warrants have been issued for both individuals.