A preliminary hearing is set for Monday for a 38-year-old Kailua-Kona man facing manslaughter and other charges in connection with a June 21 crash in Ka‘u that killed a 31-year-old woman.
Bernard Kahalehili Antoque made his initial appearance in Kona District Court Wednesday on charges of manslaughter, negligent homicide, driving with a suspended/revoked license, drug paraphernalia, unsafe vehicle on roadway, third-degree promotion of a harmful drug, false certificates of inspection, no vehicle insurance and third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug in connection with the crash that killed Angel Nohelani Leialoha Ano.
Judge Margaret Masunaga maintained bail at $3,000 following a request by Antoque’s public defender Donna Davis for supervised release. Deputy Prosecutor Stephen Frye stated a higher bail was warranted in the case, but requested it be maintained at $3,000.
Ano was a passenger in a gold 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Antoque, who police say failed to stop at the intersection of Coral Parkway and Ginger Blossom Lane in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision. The vehicle then crashed into a lava field and overturned.
Ano and Antoque were both taken to Kona Community Hospital. Ano was pronounced dead at 1:45 p.m. June 21.
Neither was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, police said. An autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Officer Kelsey Kobayashi at 326-4646, ext. 229, via email at kelsey.kobayashi@hawaiicounty.gov or the department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311.