Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
3-vehicle accident leaves 1 dead, 8 hurt
A 61-year-old man was killed and eight others injured in a three-vehicle collision yesterday on the Hawaii Belt Road near Honomu on the Big Island.Police said Richard S. Honda, of Fairfield, Calif., was driving a Dodge van with six passengers northbound at about 12:50 p.m. when he crossed the center line near the 12.7-mile marker.
He collided head-on with a Ford DHL Worldwide Express van, police said. Police said a Nissan 240SX that was behind the Ford van ran into Honda’s van.
Honda and his wife, daughter and four grandchildren as well as the drivers of the two other vehicles were taken to Hilo Medical Center.
A 28-year-old man who was driving the Ford van was listed in serious condition. A 30-year-old woman who was driving the Nissan and Honda’s family all were listed in stable condition.
State boosts efforts to stop West Nile virus
The state Department of Health has stepped up measures to prevent the West Nile virus from getting to the islands.Since cargo ships and airplanes could bring infected mosquitos into the state, the department's Vector Control Branch announced yesterday that it would be placing mosquito traps at Hawaii airports and harbors.
Scientists will test bugs caught in the traps for West Nile and can react quickly if they find a positive, officials said.
"Early detection followed quickly by aggressive suppression efforts is the state's best defense against" the virus, said Vector Control Chief Greg Olmstead.
Also as part of the increased prevention efforts, the department will survey areas of Honolulu Harbor, Kona Airport, Kahului Airport and Barbers Point harbor for possible mosquito-breeding areas. State health crews have already looked over Honolulu Airport.
"Eliminating things that hold water and create a place for mosquitoes to breed, like old tires, clogged rain gutters and tarps, can greatly reduce the chance of West Nile virus spreading should it come into the state," Olmstead said.
There have been no cases of West Nile in the islands. The disease is potentially fatal and spread by infected mosquitoes.
State Land Board OKs road conservation plan
The North-South Road in Kapolei is moving closer to construction with the approval yesterday of a conservation plan for endangered red ilima plants in its path.The 2.2-mile road will extend from Kapolei Parkway to the H-1 freeway and include highway interchanges for traffic headed to and from Honolulu. Coupled with an extension of Kapolei Parkway, it will give Ewa residents an alternate way to get on the freeway.
The state Board of Land & Natural Resources approved a Habitat Conservation Plan that includes planting red ilima at Kaena Point, Honouliuli and Diamond Head while allowing road construction to proceed.
The state Transportation Department expects to hold hearings on its environmental assessment of the road in late spring or summer, said Ron Tsuzuki, head planning engineer for state highways. Construction on the $60 million project could begin late this year and be completed in 2006.
OHA trustee sues airline over injuries
Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Rowena Akana has sued American Airlines for injuries she suffered on the jetway while boarding a flight to Honolulu two years ago.Akana filed suit in U.S. District Court yesterday seeking damages in an amount to be determined at trial.
Akana and her husband, Ronald Bongiovanni, were boarding at Los Angeles Airport on April 13, 2002, when she fell. The suit claims the airline was negligent in failing to maintain its premises in a reasonably safe manner. A spokesman for American Airlines in Fort Worth, Texas, said they had not yet seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
HPD seeks suspects in alleged rape attempt
Honolulu police are asking for the public's help in finding two men who allegedly tried to rape a 23-year-old woman last weekend after picking her up from a Temple Valley bus stop.
Police said the suspects stopped at the bus stop at 10:30 p.m. Saturday and offered to take the woman into Honolulu. The victim accepted, but the suspects drove her instead to Old Pali Road where they tried to sexually assault her.
Police said the victim fled and was picked up by a witness. The driver is a 24-year-old man, 5 feet 8 inches, about 170 pounds, with a medium build, brown complexion and dark hair.
The passenger was described as a 16-year-old male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 150 pounds, with a thin build, dirty blond short curly hair and pale complexion.
Police said the suspects were in a blue, '80s model sport utility vehicle. Witnesses can call Detective Vincente Domingo at 529-3995 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300. Free calls may also be made by calling *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
41-year-old dies surfing on Big Island
A 41-year-old man apparently drowned Wednesday while surfing off Kahaluu Beach Park, south of Kailua-Kona, Big Island police said.Police said Jeffrey Cecil, of Holualoa, was surfing just after 5 p.m. when he apparently fell off his board. Witnesses said the surfer was unconscious and had a faint pulse when he was brought to shore. Efforts to revive Cecil failed. He was pronounced dead at 6 p.m. at Kona Community Hospital.
Maui home suffers $380,000 in damage
WAILUKU >> Maui fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that caused an estimated $380,000 in damage to a single-story house and its contents in Haiku, East Maui.Assistant Fire Chief Frank Tam said two people escaped the house unhurt, but the 3,000-square-foot house was engulfed in flames by the time firefighters arrived at 2:08 p.m. Wednesday. The fire also destroyed a 2003 Honda, he said.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
