A 54-year-old Kailua man pleaded no contest in Circuit Court on Monday to causing the death of a retired city Building Department head on the Pali Highway two years ago.

Charles Kiakona was supposed to go to trial June  29 on a charge of third-degree negligent homicide.

Kiakona was driver of a flatbed tow truck that attempted to make an illegal U-turn on the Pali Highway on Jan. 10, 2013 at about 9 a.m.

The truck was on the median, but the back of truck — about 30 feet long — protruded into the Honolulu-bound lane.

A Toyota Matrix driven by Herbert Muraoka, 83, slammed into the rear of the truck, shearing off the top of the car.

The impact caused the Toyota to spin out, ending on the opposite side of the highway on an embankment on the Kailua-bound shoulder. Muraoka was killed.