Tourist in fatal HI water crash pleads no contest

(AP) An Australian tourist charged with negligent homicide in a Hawaii personal watercraft crash that killed a California teen pleaded no contest Thursday.

Tyson Dagley entered the plea on the misdemeanor charge in Circuit Court in Honolulu. A judge set his sentencing for Sept. 5.

Dagley's lawyer Walter Rodby said Dagley will remain in Hawaii until his sentencing. He was released earlier this week after posting $100,000 bail.

Investigators said Dagley, 20, was standing on his rented watercraft before it hit 16-year-old Kristen Fonseca's watercraft from behind. They say he was looking at his girlfriend, who was taking video and photos, and didn't pay attention to where he was going.

Fonseca, of Vacaville, Calif., died the next day.

Her family recently filed a lawsuit against Dagley and Aloha Jet Ski, which rented the personal watercrafts that Fonseca and Dagley were riding in Keehi Lagoon.

Dagley is a carpet cleaner from Crestmead who saved up for his dream vacation, Rodby has said. He suffered spinal injuries and a concussion in the crash, according to Rodby.

Dagley's girlfriend, Natasha Ryan, 21, was charged with hindering his prosecution. She was freed on $500 bail.