Alfred Berdon
Major Sam Thomas of Hawaii Police confirmed that Alfred Berdon III, the driver of the truck who was responsible for the deaths of two women Monday and serious injuries to five others, will stay in jail. He appeared in court Thursday morning on a separate motion to revoke his probation, which was granted. Berdon will be in State custody. Berdon was convicted of a DUI in August, 2012, and of a previous road rage incident in 2007 and had been on probation.
Regarding Monday’s accident, the investigation is ongoing. Initial charges were for 2 counts of negligent homicide, 4 counts of negligent injury, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, driving while license suspended/revoked and no no fault insurance. The accident was a two-vehicle crash on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 19), .2 miles east of the 39-mile-marker in the Hamakua District on Monday, September 10, 2012. The prosecutors and the police now have time to fully investigate that incident before formally charging Berdon.
Berdon was operating a 1993 Nissan pick-up truck and traveling east on Mamalahoa Highway (Route 19) when he overtook a 2005 Ford van being operated by a 45-year-old Kea?au man with 8-passengers.
A 61-year-old woman and a 54-year-old woman both from Kea’au died immediately from injuries they received in the two- vehicle crash.
The victims were identified as Josefina B. Visaya, 61, and Patrocinia R. Cadang, 54.
Police traffic investigators are also asking for any witnesses and people assisting at the scene to call Officer Paul Kim at 333-9708
