Ashley Wellman

The Maui News

A woman who was acquitted of murder by reason of insanity for causing a fatal traffic crash on Maui could be released from the Hawaii State Hospital if she enters a transitional living program on Oahu and follows other conditions.

Ashley Wellman also would have to receive intensive case management through a 24-hour program and attend day treatment at Queen’s Medical Center as part of special conditions that were agreed upon by the defense and prosecution.

At a 2nd Circuit Mental Health Court hearing Wednesday, Deputy Prosecutor Andrew Martin outlined the conditions that would have to be in place for Wellman’s release.

Last year, Wellman, 35, of Waiehu was acquitted of murder and other charges for causing an Oct. 8, 2016, crash on Haleakala Highway in Pukalani. She was driving a Nissan sedan traveling 127 mph in the uphill direction when she ran a red light and hit a 1998 Toyota pickup truck that was turning left from Makani Road onto the highway, according to a police investigation.

Partners Debi Wylie, 63, and Traci Winegarner, 57, who were in the truck, died at the scene of the crash.

Second Circuit Judge Peter Cahill’s verdict acquitting Wellman in a stipulated-facts trial was based on reports by three mental health professionals who examined her and found that she had been affected by a physical or mental disease, disorder or defect that substantially impaired her capacity to conform her conduct to the requirements of the law at the time of the crash.

In November, 2nd Circuit Mental Health Court Judge Richard Bissen ordered that Wellman be committed to the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe for further treatment and supervision.

She was re-examined by three psychiatrists or psychologists this year after she applied to be released from the State Hospital.

After reviewing the examiners’ reports, the prosecution and defense agree that conditional release is appropriate for Wellman, Martin said Wednesday.

She would have to apply to and be accepted into the Sierra House transitional living program on Oahu and follow other standard conditions of release, including not consuming alcohol or illegal drugs, Martin said.

Wellman appeared by video conference from the Hawaii State Hospital for the hearing Wednesday.

Bissen said the conditions of release would have to be reviewed with Wellman before an order could be filed.

The judge set an Oct. 9 return court date to review her transition to the transitional living program.