A lawyer for a former tour bus driver said he was surprised yesterday by an O'ahu grand jury indictment charging his client with manslaughter in a fatal collision last year on Kamehameha Highway in Kahalu'u.

Steve Oshiro, then 49, was driving an empty tour bus from the Polynesian Cultural Center to Honolulu when prosecutors said he crossed the center line of the two-lane highway and struck a sport utility vehicle.

Killed in the June 12 collision was Corey Voss, who left a widow who was six months pregnant. He was a food and beverage director at Oahu Country Club, and a 1983 graduate of Kalaheo High school.

Oshiro is accused of recklessly killing Voss, and was indicted on a charge of manslaughter.

Under state law, manslaughter is the most severe charge possible in cases of unintentional fatal collisions. It carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

'MOMENTARY LAPSE'

Oshiro's lawyer, Howard Luke, said he could not comment on his client's reaction when he was notified about the indictment, other than to say they were both surprised.

Luke said in his client's case, it is apparent that he wasn't speeding, he was not impaired by alcohol or drugs and he wasn't "driving in a manner that was reckless."

If his client is guilty, "it was due to the momentary lapse of attention, at least that's my understanding from the investigation that I am aware of," Luke said.

Luke said he also was surprised that Oshiro's bail was set at $100,000, which he said is high for the type of charge.

"This was a one-time incident," he said.

Circuit Judge Derrick Chan approved the amount of bail at the request of City Deputy Prosecutor Vickie Kapp, who said Oshiro had not been arrested before and has a local address.

But Kapp said Oshiro had a collision with a city bus earlier that day.

Oshiro had reportedly rear-ended a city bus in the Punahou area and caused minor damage.

"His driving that afternoon was erratic," Kapp told the judge. "The suspect should have known that he was unable to operate a vehicle safely."

She added that "as a professional driver of an extremely heavy and dangerous vehicle on a two-lane highway, the suspect should be held to a much higher standard of care."

Voss, a 41-year-old Kane'ohe resident, was returning home from surfing when the collision occurred, his friends said at the time.

LOST LICENSE AND JOB

Oshiro lost his driver's license for at least a year after he refused to submit to a field sobriety test and refused to give a blood sample, police and a state official said after the collision.

Oshiro was later fired from his job with Roberts Hawaii tour company.

Luke, however, said he doesn't believe anyone asked Oshiro to take the test.

"Apparently, no one saw any reason to request a test from Mr. Oshiro," Luke said.

Oshiro will be arraigned later, at which time Luke said his client will plead not guilty.

Luke said he also will seek a reduction in the bail amount, although it may take weeks before a state judge hears the request.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.