Trial set for suspected drunk driver that killed a 21-year-old man

BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – May 16 marked one year since Maxwell Robertson Sherwood’s death.

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The 21-year-old was hit and killed by an alleged drunk driver while walking on Orchidland Drive in Keaau.

A roadside memorial now marks the area of the crash.

“We’re just a small family, you know, we’re a quiet passive family, so it’s nothing extravagant,” his mom, Anjela Robertson, said.

It’s their way of keeping Maxwells memory alive while they await the lengthy court process to play out.

“I’m really hoping the justice part will be done because once that ends, I feel like I can move on to focusing on him and who he was,” Robertson said.

In October, the suspected driver Dallas Brooks, now 31, was indicted on charges of first-degree negligent homicide, and driving under the influence. Court documents say Brooks had a blood alcohol level of .15 — almost twice the legal limit.

Bail was set at $100,000 and he was granted supervised release.

“I don’t feel like I don’t think he should be out,” Robertson said. “Up until trial, I don’t think things have gone the way that I would want them to go.”

The supervised release came two months after the victim’s mother said she saw Brooks buy beer at the convenience store where she worked before driving away.

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Roberston has sat in on Brooks’ court appearances, and said there’s been no contact between them, not even an apology for what happened.

“I don’t expect much from him at all. He doesn’t seem like someone who is going to go out of his way to apologize or make amends, or I’m not sure how much remorse he has,” she said.

Roberston added that she’s been told that Brooks has left the state multiple times while on supervised release.

“I’ve had somebody from Florida contact me and tell me that he is over there,” she said.

As Hawaii Island sees a rise in deadly crashes, Robertson hopes other families will avoid a tragedy like hers.

“Drive safe. The roads are getting so scary out here, and I feel for all these families that have lost their loved ones in the past week or so, and just drive safe, slow down. Watch out for others. Have aloha,” Robertson said.

Brooks previously entered a not guilty plea. He is set to return to court on June 12 in Hilo, with trial set to begin on Aug. 10.

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