A North Shore woman was sentenced to 60 days in prison Tuesday for causing a fatal head-on collision two years ago near Kawela Bay.
"Not a day goes by that I don’t think about it," Nicole Marie Russo said while weeping before Circuit Judge Ed Kubo Jr.
The crash killed Joshua Plandor, 24, of Haleiwa, who was riding in the front seat of Russo’s vehicle, and injured the driver of the car Russo hit head-on after crossing the centerline of Kamehameha Highway on April 11, 2012.
During Tuesday’s sentencing, the other driver sat in the gallery behind Russo as she asked for mercy in sentencing. He later declined comment.
Russo, 24, faced up to 10 years in prison for the negligent homicide and a year’s imprisonment for a related assault charge. She pleaded no contest to both counts in September.
The state said Russo was drunk, high and speeding. The prosecutor said Russo’s blood alcohol content was 0.17, more than double the legal threshold for drunken driving, and that she also tested positive for marijuana. Plandor died 28 days after the crash. Russo also suffered injuries in the crash.
Kubo told Russo that jail time is necessary and called the crash a "horrible, horrible tragedy."
"Three families, including yours, are hurting so much today," he said.
Kubo granted Russo’s request for a deferral of her no-contest pleas which will wipe the convictions from her record if she stays out of trouble for five years. Without such an option, he said, Russo would likely have difficulty leading a productive life that may include service to the community.
Kubo ordered her to pay $2,817 to the victim’s family and required her to undergo treatment for drug use and mental health.
