LIHUE — The driver of a vehicle that crashed and killed a passenger could face felony charges. Daniel Steven Dunkin, 62, of Lacey, Wash., was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree negligent homicide, two counts of first-degree negligent injury, reckless
LIHUE — The driver of a vehicle that crashed and killed a passenger could face felony charges.
Daniel Steven Dunkin, 62, of Lacey, Wash., was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree negligent homicide, two counts of first-degree negligent injury, reckless driving and inattention to driving.
Dunkin was released pending further investigation, according to county arrest logs.
The arrest stems from a two-car crash that occurred on Kuhio Highway in Kilauea late Thursday afternoon and resulted in one fatality and several injuries.
George Nielson, 58, of Washington state died in the crash. A 62-year-old female passenger was air lifted to Queen’s Hospital in Oahu, where she remained in critical condition on Monday, according to a Kauai County Spokeswoman Sarah Blane.
The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. near the Pili Road junction, when the Chevrolet SUV driven by Dunkin apparently attempted a left turn from the southbound lane. It was struck by an oncoming Ford truck.
Dunkin and another 56-year-old female passenger suffered non-life threatening injuries. Medics transported them to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in stable condition.
The 55-year-old Kilauea man who was driving the Ford truck did not sustain any injuries.
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney stated that they will review the case once KPD has completed its investigation. KPD initially reported that speed and alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors in the crash.
It marked Kauai’s third traffic-related fatality of 2014.
