Salvin Hilario pleads guilty in fatal hit-and-run case; victim’s family objects to plea deal

Salvin Hilario pled guilty Monday in Kauaʻi’s Fifth Circuit Court to second-degree negligent homicide for the hit-and-run death of Kailon Tyndzik under a plea agreement that will send him to prison for five years minus time served.

Hilario, 55, who appeared before Judge Michael K. Soong wearing a green jumpsuit, and also pled guilty to felony driving without a license.

Prosecutors agreed to dismiss charges of collision involving death or serious bodily injury and unsafe equipment as part of the agreement.

Hilario is accused of driving the vehicle that struck 30-year-old Kailon Tyndzik, a former ocean safety lifeguard, while he was skateboarding along Nāwiliwili Road in Liʻhūe on Feb. 12, 2025. Hilario is also accused of not stopping to render aid.

Tyndizik was transported to the Wilcox Medical Center in Līhue, and later airlifted to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu where he died eight days later from his injuries.

Hilario and the state agreed to concurrent 5-year prison terms on both Class C felony counts, with credit for time already served. Hilario was arrested two days after the incident and initially made bail of $250. But following Tyndizik’s death, the charges were elevated, and he was taken back into custody with his bail set at $250,000 in May 2025. He has remained in custody since then.

The plea agreement also requires Hilario to pay restitution for losses connected to the case in an amount to be determined by adult client probation services. And the two felonies he pled guilty to also have fines of up to $10,000 each.

At the time of Hilario’s initial arrest for this case, police said he had no permanent address.

During the hearing, Hilario’s court appointed attorney, Melinda Mendes, said Hilario had a statement to read about why he was guilty and admitted that he caused Tyndzikʻs death through negligent operation of a vehicle and acknowledged driving without a license.

The Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Gennady Bronshteyn told the court that members of the victim’s family strongly opposed the plea agreement.

“The family of the victim has contacted our office extensively, and they made it very clear that they object to this plea agreement,” Bronshteyn said.

However, Bronshteyn added the prosecutors believe the agreement is an appropriate resolution of the case.

In a written objection, Tyndzik Hanai’s sister, Laycie Love, said she did not consent to the plea agreement and opposed a maximum 5-year sentence in a case involving a fatal crash.

She also expressed concerns about the investigation, noting that she felt more effort should have been made to find and present a key witness. She questioned if the plea deal truly represented the strength of the state’s case and the details of her brother’s death.

According to the plea offer, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges with prejudice after sentencing and required Hilario to waive certain procedural challenges and accept full restitution obligations. The agreement notes that sentencing remains within the court’s discretion, although the judge indicated he was inclined to follow the negotiated resolution.

Hilario told the court he was entering the plea voluntarily and was satisfied with his attorney’s representation.

The court accepted the guilty plea and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 3 at 8 a.m. The judge also ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence investigation report.

Hilario’s court records reveal an extensive criminal traffic record dating to 1993 and encompassing approximately 33 arrests, ranging from traffic infractions to serious traffic offenses.

Prior convictions include sexual assault, abuse of a family or household member, resisting an order to stop, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, failure to appear, harassment, contempt of court, and trespassing.