A Keaau man accused of causing a fiery collision on Mother’s Day 2017 that killed another Keaau man, then fleeing the scene, has withdrawn his no-contest plea to a lesser charge.
In a deal with prosecutors, it appeared Keempe Obra Drequito was to be sentenced to a maximum five years imprisonment after pleading no contest on March 12 to second-degree negligent homicide, a Class C felony.
Police say Drequito, then 26, was driving a 2003 Mazda sedan south on Keaau-Pahoa Highway (Highway 130) that rear-ended a 1990 Toyota pickup truck driven by 31-year-old Travis Serquina of Keaau at the Shower Drive/Pohaku Drive intersection at about 8:40 p.m on May 14, 2017.
Drequito withdrew his no-contest plea on Aug. 6. The original charges, which include manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and reckless driving have been reinstated, in addition to the negligent homicide charge. The manslaughter charge is a Class A felony punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, upon conviction, while leaving the scene of a fatal accident is a Class B felony that carries a potential 10-year prison term.
County Prosecutor Mitch Roth said he couldn’t comment on why Drequito was allowed to withdraw his plea, something that rarely occurs in Big Island circuit courts. He said that plea negotiations continue with Drequito’s court-appointed attorneys, Brian De Lima and Jeremy Butterfield.
The next court appearance for Drequito, who’s free on $60,000 bail, is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 29.
According to police, the collision caused Serquina’s truck to burst into flames. Bystanders attempted to extinguish the fire and pull Serquina from the wreckage, but were unable to do so. Serquina died at the scene.
Police say Drequito, who was cited five times for speeding or driving too fast for conditions between 2010 and 2015, fled the scene on foot. He was located a short time later at his home, where he arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide.
According to court documents filed by police, Drequito’s Mazda was spotted by witnesses traveling at a high rate of speed on the closed shoulder lane of Highway 130 used for peak-hour traffic, prior to rear-ending Serquina’s pickup near the intersection of Shower Drive and Pohaku Drive.
The collision closed Highway 130, the main artery in and out of lower Puna, for almost eight hours.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.