Driver settles with family of crash victim

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A former Hawai'i Kai resident has settled a lawsuit brought against him by the family of a Holy Trinity teacher who was killed when the man's car slammed into the van in which she was riding in August 2001.

Wayne Kekina, lawyer for surviving family members of Elizabeth Kekoa, said the out-of-court settlement was reached with Nicholas Tudisco and his parents, Michael and Cynthia Tudisco, on Wednesday.

"The family is one step closer to closure now, but is still very upset by what happened," Kekina said.

He said a confidentiality agreement prevented him from disclosing the terms of the settlement.

The lawsuit filed by Kekina claimed Tudisco was driving a souped-up Honda leased by his parents and may have been racing when he lost control of his car and struck the van in which Kekoa was a passenger.

The Tudisco family lived in Hawai'i Kai at the time but the parents have since moved to the East Coast while Nicholas Tudisco entered California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Tudisco was on the university baseball team but was suspended after he was indicted by the O'ahu grand jury in January on reckless manslaughter charges in connection with the crash that killed Kekoa.

A trial on the criminal charge is scheduled to begin in November.

Michael Green, Tudisco's attorney, said the settlement reached this week in the civil case will not affect the criminal case since there was no admission of liability by Tudisco.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.