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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 5:46 p.m., Thursday, November 15, 2007

Hilo woman charged in fatal North Kohala crash

Advertiser Staff

Big Island police have charged a 21-year-old Hilo woman with negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without a license, racing on the highway and inattentive driving in connection with Sunday's fatal crash in North Kohala.

Chelsey K.V. Mauga was arrested and charged last night after being discharged from North Hawai'i Community Hospital. Mauga was later released on her own recognizance due to serious injuries suffered in the early morning crash on Akoni Pule Highway that resulted in the death of Ronald J. Tavares, 21, of Waimea.

Tavares was a passenger in a 1988 Isuzu pickup truck being driven by Mauga.

Police suspect Mauga was racing a 1980 GMC pickup driven by Brian Santiago, 34, when she crashed her truck.

Santiago, of North Kohala, was charged Sunday with negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without a license, racing on the highway, inattentive driving, and driving a vehicle while his license was suspended/revoked for DUI.

None of the four people in the GMC pickup were injured.