Drunken-driver
victims say term
of 10 years ‘too
light’ in fatal crashA Lahaina teacher was killed
By Gary T. Kubota
and three were injured in the
1996 Maui accident caused
by the 38-year-old man
Star-BulletinWAILUKU -- Victims of the car crash that killed a Lahaina schoolteacher say a 10-year prison sentence is too light for Robert W. Lawyer.
Lawyer, 38, was admittedly drunk when he drove into cars near the Lahaina Pali on May 31, 1996, severely injuring three people and killing Lahaina Intermediate School teacher Pollyann Van Zweden.
He had no drivers license or insurance, and fled to Arizona shortly after the accident. He was arrested in April and brought back to Maui.
Lawyer pleaded no contest on Oct. 12 to first-degree negligent homicide, two counts of first-degree negligent injury and one count of second-degree negligent injury. He was sentenced Thursday.
First-degree negligent homicide carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
Nino Abelardo, who was in intensive care for six days, said the sentence was light compared to his injuries and the death of Van Zweden.
With parole, Lawyer will probably be released from prison in two to three years, he said.
Abelardo said he still experiences pain and is unable to enjoy some activities with his children.
"I'm going to spend the rest of my life with this foot," he said.
Nellie Hamada, who suffered a broken thigh bone, fractured neck and loss of hearing on her left side, said Lawyer should have received a longer sentence.
She said she still suffers pain and has to rest after walking some distance.
"For what I'm suffering today -- and I'm thinking it's going to be the rest of my life -- I really don't think that was enough," Hamada said.
Hamada was traveling with her husband and sister-in-law on a trip to Maui when Lawyer's vehicle went into the oncoming lane and struck the other cars.
