Manslaughter Charges Filed In Deaths Of 3 Pedestrians

Authorities say they found a half-empty vodka bottle in the pickup of Alins Sumang after he smashed into a crowded intersection.

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 (AP) — There was a half-empty bottle of vodka inside the pickup truck a suspected drunken driver plowed into a crowded Honolulu intersection, killing three people, according to a police statement filed in court Thursday.

Alins Sumang, charged with three counts of manslaughter, didn’t speak during a brief court appearance, where he stood handcuffed and surrounded by deputy sheriffs.

An officer responding to Monday evening’s crash near popular Ala Moana Beach Park found the bottle of Absolut vodka in the front passenger floorboard, according to a probable cause document.

Sumang, 27, was belligerent, spoke with slurred speech and cursed at emergency workers, the statement said.

Alins Sumang stands next to Deputy Public Defender Sarah Nishioka in court Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 in Honolulu. Prosecutors say Sumang recklessly caused the deaths of Casimir Pokorny of Pennsylvania, Reino Ikeda of Japan and William Lau of Honolulu. Police say speed and alcohol appeared to factors in Monday's crash. Police Chief Susan Ballard says it's one of Honolulu's deadliest pedestrian crashes. (AP Photo/Jennifer Sinco Kelleher).
Alins Sumang stands next to Deputy Public Defender Sarah Nishioka in court Thursday. AP

Prosecutors say he recklessly caused the deaths of Casimir Pokorny of Pennsylvania, Reino Ikeda of Japan and William Lau of Honolulu. The truck veered across three lanes, climbed a traffic island, hit six pedestrians, and then crashed into another truck. Three people, including the driver of the second truck, were hospitalized, and one was treated and released.

Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard called it one of Honolulu’s worst crashes.

Alins Sumang 

Another responding officer arrived to find people lying on the road and a fallen traffic signal, the statement said.

Based on skid marks, Sumang was speeding, police said.

Sumang was being held on $1 million bail.

The public defender’s office represented Sumang in court Thursday. State Public Defender Jack Tonaki said it’s too early to comment. His office is still sorting out whether it will continue to represent Sumang.

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