LIHU‘E — A Kapa‘a man reached a plea deal last week in a dump truck collision that killed a visitor from California.
David Michaeledes, 59, was involved in a Nov. 1, 2021, crash on Kuhio Highway in the vicinity of the turnoff to Lydgate Park.
The Kaua‘i Police Department said Michaeledes was driving a 2007 Ford dump truck when he collided with a 1997 Lexus sedan, as both vehicles were heading southbound. The Lexus then spun into oncoming traffic where it was broadsided by a 2009 Toyota pickup truck.
Sheryl Albers, a 67-year-old visitor from California riding in the front passenger seat of the Lexus, was killed in the collision.
The driver of the Lexus, 63-year-old California resident Karen Wachsmuth, was hospitalized after the crash. The driver of the pickup truck also suffered minor injuries. Michaeledes was unharmed.
Michaeledes entered a no-contest plea at the Fifth Circuit Court in Lihu‘e on Feb. 13 to charges of negligent homicide in the second degree, negligent injury in the first degree, and inattention to driving. He could face a maximum of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the negligent homicide charge, and the same penalties for the negligent injury charge.
Michaeledes also pleaded to separate charges of criminal property damage in the second degree, in an unrelated case. He could face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for that charge as well. His sentencing is set for May 11.
This is the latest update in a series of negligent homicide cases related to deadly crashes that have been making their way through the local courts.
Last week, Thomas Castro was arrested and charged with negligent homicide for his role in a fatal April 2022 collision in Anahola.
Earlier this month, Jared Denault moved to withdraw his no-contest plea in a deadly 2020 hit-and-run accident.
And, Sandon Igne pleaded no contest in November 2022 to charges related to a Christmas Eve, 2021 collision that killed two people. Igne was drinking at the time of the accident and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.133 percent. He is set to be sentenced in April.
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, reporter, can be reached at 808-647-0329 or gscrimgeour@thegardenisland.com.
