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By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU
Two of the five people in the Nissan Altima involved in the deadly Makaha accident Monday had been drinking, Honolulu Medical Examiner Dr. William Goodhue said yesterday.
2 in fatal crash found to have been drinkingFour people in the car died when the speeding Altima went out of control on Farrington Highway and crashed into a Ford Explorer.
The medical examiner said Christopher Tacut, 21, had a blood-alcohol level of .055. His brother, Joshua Mendoza, had a .121 blood-alcohol level. The brothers were in the front seat, but police and the medical examiner have declined to say who was driving. Under state law a person with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 or higher is considered driving under the influence of alcohol.
Tina Vaesau, 18, and Verna Eli, 24, were also killed in the accident and tested negative for alcohol, Goodhue said. All four tested negative for drugs.
The medical examiner also said Mendoza, Vaesau and Eli died of multiple internal injuries, while Tacut died from head injuries.
Talofaga "Talo" Uini, 19, is the only one of those in the Altima to survive. Uini was ejected from the back seat and broke his leg.
The 18-year-old female driver of the Explorer and her 19-year-old male passenger were treated for minor injuries at the Queen's Medical Center.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
WAILUKU >> Maui police investigators are looking for three men who allegedly assaulted and robbed two men in separate incidents in South Maui.
Police seek 3 men in 2 Maui robberiesPolice said the first incident took place at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 28 outside a Kihei beach park.
The victim said he was pulled from his vehicle and assaulted, then the men took his cell phone, wallet and gold-colored 1991 two-door Acura. The car was recovered Dec. 2.
In a second incident 20 minutes later, a man walking in a Kihei park was assaulted by three males who took his wallet and cell phone.
Police described one of the three assailants as in his 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, with reddish-colored hair. The second suspect is in his 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches tall, slender, with dark hair. Police said the third suspect is in his late teens, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, 110 pounds, with dark hair.
Anyone with information about the robberies or suspects is asked to call Maui CrimeStoppers, 808-242-6966.
BIG ISLE POLICE OFFICER
HURT IN ACCIDENT
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kona police officers surveyed damage to a police Cushman motor vehicle on Alii Drive in Kailua-Kona yesterday after officer Darrell Clinton was slightly injured. The accident is under investigation.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
