Hilo man faces manslaughter, other charges in fatal Daniel K. Inouye Highway traffic crash

A 39-year-old Hilo man faces a manslaughter charge, among others, in a fatal Sept. 5 traffic collision on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also called Saddle Road.

Hawai‘i County prosecuting attorney’s office reports Jeremy A. Fleming was arrested and charged with:

• Manslaughter (recklessly cause the death of another person).
• Second-degree negligent homicide (causing the death of another person by the operation of a motor vehicle in a negligent manner).
• First-degree negligent injury (causing serious bodily harm to another person by the operation of a vehicle in a negligent manner).

Fleming made his initial appearance Tuesday morning in Kona District Court, during which his bailed was reduced to $300,000 from $400,000 and he was ordered to appear Sept. 9 for a preliminary hearing in the case.

The most serious offense he faces is manslaughter, a Class A felony with a maximum penalty of a 20-year prison term. Second-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury are both Class C felonies punishable by a 5-year prison sentence, if convicted.

Hawai‘i Island police report that Fleming was driving a 2023 Tesla sedan and attempting to overtake multiple vehicles Sept. 5, under heavy fog and low visibility weather conditions near the 46-mile marker on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, when the Tesla collided head-on with a 2020 Harley Davidson motorcycle operated by 55-year-old William Simao of Hilo, resulting in his death.

The Tesla also struck and critically injured 35-year-old motorcyclist Perry Keohuloa of Hilo.

Simao was pronounced dead at the scene. Keohuloa was flown with life-threatening injuries to The Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu.

A fourth vehicle, a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, also sustained damage after being struck by debris from the collisions.

The felony investigation was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit Officer Adam Roberg. Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Woodward is prosecuting the case.