Kona man sentenced to 20 years in prison following fatal 2022 car crash

A 21-year-old man from Kona was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a vehicle crash in 2022 that left Rhonda Freedman dead.

Trevor Shoemaker-Hassey pleaded no contest on Aug. 12 to the charge of manslaughter, a class A felony. On Nov. 4, members of the victim’s family provided input to the court during the sentencing hearing on Dec. 5.

Shoemaker-Hassey was also ordered to pay $13,526.14 in restitution.

“Impaired and distracted driving remains one of the greatest public safety concerns on Hawai‘i Island. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Freedman ‘ohana and we hope that this result offers them some sense of closure,” said Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “This would not be possible without the hard work of our police, prosecutors, and victim advocates.”

The fatal crash occurred on July 17, 2022, near the intersection of Māmalahoa Highway and Akina Place in Kona. The now 21-year-old was traveling at 60 mph, 15 mph over the posted speed limit, in a Nissan Rogue. According to police reports, Shoemaker-Hassey’s minor-aged female passenger said that Shoemaker-Hassey had consumed alcohol and taken Xanax before the collision.

According to police reports, “An intoxilyzer screening indicated that Shoemaker-Hassey had a breath alcohol concentration of .071,” according to a press release from the Hawai‘i County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.

Shoemaker-Hassey turned into the oncoming lane before colliding with the Nissan Versa being operated by Freedman.