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Mental health evaluation ordered in attempted murder case

Hawaii Tribune-Herald - 12/19/2017

KEALAKEKUA - A mental health evaluation was ordered for an Alaska woman accused of attempted murder after police say she hit her boyfriend with a rental car last week.

Crystal Young, 30, appeared Monday in Kona District Court for arraignment and plea on several charges connected with the incident, which occurred Friday.

Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner said officers responded to the runway area of Old Kona Airport Park, where they reportedly determined Young was involved in a domestic dispute with her boyfriend, a 36-year-old man also visiting from Alaska.

Young was reportedly "driving reckless, doing doughnuts with the vehicle," Wagner said, while the man was outside the vehicle.

While operating a black sedan, Young allegedly drove directly for the man and struck him, causing significant injuries to his body and head.

After striking the man, police say Young drove to the dead end side of the park and fled on foot into the brush area, where she was later located by authorities.

Young's boyfriend was taken to Kona Community Hospital before being flown to The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu. As of Monday afternoon, the victim remained in critical condition.

Young's defense counsel, Andrew Kennedy, told District Judge Margaret Masunaga on Monday morning that his client's mental health might have been affecting her at the time of the incident.

Masunaga granted a mental health examination. A review hearing of that examination is scheduled for Jan. 17.

Young was charged with second-degree attempted murder, abuse of a family member, reckless endangering, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to render aid. Bail was set at $281,000.

Masunaga denied a bail reduction request.

Email Tiffany DeMasters at tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com.