An Oklahoma man, Brandon Walser, was extradited to Hawai'i to face charges after a Hilo grand jury indicted him for his role in a fatal 2024 crash that claimed the life of 48-year-old Marcella Tellez of California, according to Big Island Now. The crash happened near mile marker 13 on Highway 19 in Hamakua, where investigators assert Walser was overtaking other vehicles before colliding with Tellez's car, as reported by Hawaii News Now.
The charges against Walser include manslaughter, first-degree negligent homicide, and first-degree negligent injury. Prosecutors allege he was highly intoxicated at the time of the accident, which led to the elevation of the negligent homicide offense to a Class A felony. Walser was allegedly a “highly intoxicated driver,” with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher, which played a role in the charges, as noted by Big Island Now. After his arrest in Oklahoma this September, he was brought back to Hawai‘i, where he made his first court appearance yesterday, with his bail confirmed at $500,000. He is scheduled for a follow-up hearing on December 29. Walton made his initial court appearance at the Hilo Circuit Court, as per Hawaii News Now.
Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen highlighted that while the accusations are severe Walser is presumed innocent unless proven guilty, as mentioned by Big Island Now. Officers Johnathan Rapoza and Laurence Davis from the Hawai’i Police Department's Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit led the felony case and contributed to the investigation that originated with the Hamakua/North Hilo and South Hilo Patrol divisions, and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Woodward is now prosecuting the case.
If convicted of the first-degree negligent homicide or manslaughter charges, Walser could face up to 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, the negligent injury charge—a Class C felony—carries a potential sentence of up to five years. These details of the potential sentencing were highlighted by Big Island Now.
