LIHUE — A man who prosecutors said used his car to kill a man last June was indicted by a grand jury Thursday for murder in the second degree. Evan Craft, 34, had “some sort of altercation” with the victim,
LIHUE — A man who prosecutors said used his car to kill a man last June was indicted by a grand jury Thursday for murder in the second degree.
Evan Craft, 34, had “some sort of altercation” with the victim, 37-year-old Michael Helppie of Lawai, according to the state. Evidently, the confrontation escalated when Craft allegedly used his vehicle and ran him over, the state said.
Bail for Craft, who was also indicted on a charge of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant Thursday, was set at $500,000.
Craft was driving an SUV at the time of the alleged incident. It started at a nearby bar around 1:45 a.m. June 1, 2015, and ended near the Kalapaki seawall along Nawiliwili Park, police said in a release.
“Craft’s SUV struck Helppie then ran over a concrete piling, where the SUV became stuck,” the release said.
Helppie died at the scene.
Craft was arrested later at Kalapaki Beach for manslaughter and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. He was released pending investigation.
