Big Island police have charged a 21-year-old Hilo woman with negligent homicide and other offenses in connection with Sunday's fatal crash in North Kohala.

Chelsey K.V. Mauga was arrested and charged Wednesday night after being discharged from North Hawai'i Community Hospital. Mauga was later released on her own recognizance due to serious injuries suffered in the 1:50 a.m. crash on Akoni Pule Highway that resulted in the death of Ronald J. Tavares, 21, of Waimea.

Tavares was a passenger in a 1988 Isuzu pickup truck being driven by Mauga. He was pronounced dead at 7:05 a.m. Sunday at Kona Community Hospital.

Police suspect Mauga was racing a 1980 GMC pickup driven by Brian Santiago, 34, when one of the trucks crashed into the other.

In addition to negligent homicide, Mauga was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without a license, racing on the highway and inattentive driving.

Santiago, of North Kohala, was charged Sunday with negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, driving without a license, racing on the highway, inattentive driving and driving a vehicle while his license was suspended/revoked for DUI.

None of the four people in the GMC pickup were injured.

Tavares' death was the 35th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year.