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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

Driver held in fatal collision with bicyclist

A 50-year-old Kailua bicyclist died yesterday after being struck by a car on Kailua Road, police said.

The man was riding a 21-speed, red Mongoose bicycle makai-bound on Kailua Road against the flow of traffic when he was struck by a car headed in the opposite direction, said traffic Officer William Baldwin.

The head-on collision occurred at 3:52 a.m. near the intersection of Kailua Road and Hoolai Street, Baldwin said.

The car that struck the man was a 1992 gray Buick four-door, driven by a 20-year-old Honolulu man, with a 19-year-old man from Texas as his passenger.

The driver fled the scene, Baldwin said, but was stopped at the nearby Foodland parking lot and arrested for investigation of failure to render aid.

The bicyclist was taken to Castle Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. yesterday, Baldwin said.

Speed and alcohol appear to have been factors in the case, police said. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

The bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, didn't have a headlamp and was wearing dark clothing, Baldwin said. There were street lights in the area.

This is the 28th traffic fatality on Oahu this year, compared to 25 last year at this time.

Man dies after hitting firefighter sent to help

A 28-year-old man died Friday night at Castle Medical Center, where he was being evaluated for mental competency after punching a firefighter who had tried to help him, police said.

Firefighters and an ambulance were dispatched to an Aiea address at 7:16 p.m. to assist a man behaving strangely who also appeared to have difficulty breathing, police said.

When firefighters arrived, the man punched one of them and police were called to transport him to Castle for an evaluation. He was pronounced dead at 9:48 p.m. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death, police said.

HONOLULU

Police seek driver in pedestrian hit-and-run

A pedestrian was in critical condition after being hit by a car in Kakaako early yesterday.

Police said the victim, a man, was crossing Ward Avenue heading in the Ewa direction when he was hit by a car traveling mauka on Ward. The accident happened at about 3:25 a.m. near the intersection with Queen Street.

The driver of the car fled the scene, police said. The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center.

Police are asking anyone with information about the accident to call 529-3499.