Maui Boat Captain Fined for Diver’s Death

A Lahaina boat captain was ordered to pay $4,000 in fines after pleading guilty on April 30 to negligent homicide and other charges in the death of a diver who was struck by an inflatable boat in waters off Lanai two years ago.

The Maui News reports that Eric Olbrich, 44, of Lahaina also was ordered not to operate a vessel within a mile of Lanai as part of his one year's probation. He was sentenced after pleading guilty as charged to the misdemeanor charge of third-degree negligent homicide. He also pleaded guilty to the violations of careless operation of a vessel, operating a vessel in excess of speed restrictions within 200 feet of a diver's flag, operating a vessel in excess of speed restrictions within 200 feet of a swimmer and operating a vessel within 100 feet of a displayed diver's flag.

The death occurred the morning of July 31, 2011, when Lanai resident Alan Amoncio, 51, was freediving just outside the break wall at Lanai's Kaumalapau Harbor. Amoncio's wife, Kittrick, was diving with him when she saw the boat owned by Ultimate Rafting quickly approaching the harbor entrance. She was 50 to 70 feet away from her husband when she saw him surface and saw the boat drive over him. Alan Amoncio had marked his position with a red diver-down flag with a diagonal white stripe, according to court records, and he suffered fatal injuries from being struck by the boat propeller.

As part of his sentence, Olbrich also was ordered to pay $8,483 in restitution and $275 in fees.