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WAILUKU -- A 30-year-old man faces up to 10 years in prison when he goes before a judge for sentencing in the traffic deaths of four people. Driver changes plea
in Maui crash
that killed four
By Gary T. Kubota
Maui correspondentDavut Duman of Turkey pleaded no contest yesterday in Maui Circuit Court to a number of charges, including four counts of second-degree negligent homicide, one count of second-degree negligent injury, and non-compliance with the speed limit.
His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 26 before Judge Shackley Raffetto.
Duman spoke English during the proceedings yesterday and said he understood the consequences of changing his plea from innocent to no contest.
Other than pleading "no contest," he said very little. He is expected to say more when he appears before the court for sentencing.
Duman was the driver of a sports utility vehicle in the early morning hours of April 29 that failed to make around a curve near the junction of Hana Highway and Kaahumanu Avenue, struck a coconut tree, flipped over and crashed into the building housing GTE Wireless.
In an affidavit to police earlier this year, Duman said he was driving about 60 mph.
Police traffic investigators calculated the vehicle was traveling closer to 66 mph.
The speed limit for the area is 30 mph.
He and five passengers worked on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas anchored for a visit outside Lahaina Harbor.
Only he and a front-seat passenger, Levent Yilmaz of Turkey, survived the crash.
Killed were back-seat passengers Claire Breasley, 27, and Sharon Smith, 28, both of Great Britain, and Huseyim Karacik, 29, and Inan Hir, 21, both of Turkey.
Deputy Prosecutor Melinda Mendes said as part of the plea agreement, her office is able to seek an extended sentence of 10 years in prison.
She said that as part of the plea agreement, Duman has also agreed to pay funeral expenses for the victims.
Mendes said Duman was not intoxicated with alcohol at the time of the crash.
Duman has been incarcerated in lieu of $50,000 bail since his arrest shortly after the crash.