Newswatch
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Monday, April 22, 1996
And county officials are hoping a conference committee will come up with a proposal so counties won't be liable for multimillion dollar judgments.
State and federal governments are already immune from liability in beach accidents. Hotels are also protected, leaving county governments as the main target.
Rep. Terrence Tom says beach-goers should use common sense rather than burdening government agencies. But Sen. Rey Graulty worries counties won't warn people about ocean dangers if they are immune from prosecution.
Graulty is working with the state attorney general's office on a proposal that would increase beach warnings while providing counties protection from prosecution.
In a letter sent to Gov. Ben Cayetano and the legislators, they asked for elimination of "loopholes" which have resulted in the system being misused.
Among the companies represented were Aloha Airlines; C. Brewer and Co.; Castle & Cooke Properties; United Airlines; and Central Pacific Bank.
The Haku Alliance, a group working for system reform, said there are three bills still before the Legislature that will be the subject of conference committees this week.
Police said the incident happened at around 8:25 p.m. yesterday at 94-833 Makaaloha St. in Waipahu. Officers found the man unconscious with electrical burns after investigating a loud explosion in the area.
The man, police said, cut a hole in the power plant's fence to gain access and had removed several copper conductors before he apparently "touched something he shouldn't have" and was shocked.
Scott A. Stevenson, 20, was riding toward Kihei on North Kihei Road when a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction passed a vehicle and hit his motorcycle at about 7 p.m.
Mark Santos, the driver of the pickup truck, was in serious condition at Maui Memorial Hospital this morning, police said.
- Maui pedestrian in Friday fatality identified
- Japan tourist victim of Hilo purse snatcher
- Visitor from Michigan drowns off Big Island