Driver admits he smoked meth before fatal crash

Passenger died when driver lost control, crashed into guardrail

A driver admitted he injected and smoked methamphetamine before a crash that killed his passenger early Thursday on Waiehu Beach Road, according to documents filed in 2nd Circuit Court.

Holden Bingham, 30, also admitted he knew the 1998 Toyota T100 pickup truck he was driving was stolen, making the statements to police investigators after he was advised of his constitutional rights, according to declarations by Deputy Prosecutor Brandon Segal, who heads the prosecutor's Vehicular Homicide and Road Safety Unit.

Segal filed motions Friday to revoke Bingham's release for not complying with requirements of his probation in one case and for not complying with bail conditions in another case.

Cash-only bail of $500,000 was set in his probation-violation case, and $500,000 bail was set in his pending criminal case in which he faces 19 charges, including 16 for felony offenses.

His total bail for both cases is $1.1 million, including $100,000 that had been posted by bond for his release from jail three days before the fatal crash.

The bond was revoked by the bonding agency after Bingham was arrested Thursday.

Police said Bingham was driving toward Wailuku on Waiehu Beach Road when he lost control of the truck and hit the guardrail on the makai side shoulder at 2:14 a.m. Thursday near Wailupe Drive in Waiehu. The truck rolled over and his passenger, 37-year-old Jamescy Akahi of Wailuku, was ejected from the vehicle, police said.

She suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported by ambulance to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where she died, police said.

Bingham was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, driving without a license, reckless driving and excessive speeding of 81 mph or more.

Bingham allegedly was driving "at a speed far exceeding 80 mph, in a posted 30 mph roadway," according to Segal's declaration.

Police said the truck was reported stolen Wednesday in Lahaina.

Bingham hasn't been charged in the fatal crash, as investigation continues by the police Vehicle Homicide Unit.

Bingham was on probation for second-degree burglary and habitual property crime in a 2018 case when he was arrested in July for allegedly burglarizing a Wailuku business after its keys were left in a vehicle stolen from a Kahului residence.

In that case, Bingham is charged with two counts of second-degree burglary, eight counts of habitual property crime, two counts of second-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, unauthorized possession of confidential personal information, fourth-degree theft, theft of a credit card, driving without a license, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

As a repeat offender, he faces mandatory minimum sentencing if convicted of some of the felony charges.

His bail had been set at $160,000 in the case before being reduced to $100,000 on Sept. 8 at the request of the defense and over the objection of the prosecution, according to Segal's declaration.

Bingham posted a $100,000 bond to be released Sept. 11, only to be taken back into custody Dec. 9 when the bond was surrendered, apparently after he was arrested for property and drug crimes that occurred Dec. 6, the declaration says. He was released pending further investigation in the December case.

Court records show Bingham again posted a $100,000 bond to be released Monday.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.