HONOLULU

Mo-ped crash kills 22-year-old driver

A 22-year-old man died early today after his mo-ped crashed at the base of St. Louis Heights.

Shortly before 3:29 a.m., a 1995 Honda Elite mo-ped was Ewa-bound on Dole Street near Frank Street when the driver lost control, hit a curb and went into an embankment, police said.

The man, whose identity was not released this morning, was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Police said speed may have been a factor in the crash, and they were investigating whether drugs or alcohol were also factors. The driver was not wearing a helmet, police said.

Aiea woman dies after crashing car

A 76-year-old Aiea woman died Sunday night after a single-car crash in Halawa Heights.

Police said Hideko Masaki was making a right turn from Pualaa Street to Ulune Street in a 2008 Toyota at about 6 p.m. when she hit a retaining wall. She was taken in serious condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where she died.

The Medical Examiner's Office determined that she died of chest and abdominal injuries received in the crash.

Police said Masaki was wearing a seat belt and that speed, alcohol and drugs were not factors in the crash.

CENTRAL OAHU

Man, 30, arrested in Wahiawa knifing

Police arrested a 30-year-old man who allegedly stabbed another man several times early yesterday.

Police said a miscommunication led to an argument between the suspect and the 18-year-old victim at about 12:30 a.m. in Wahiawa.

The suspect stabbed the teenager in the left hip, hands and behind the left eye with a knife, police said. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, but improved to stable condition, said Bryan Cheplic, Emergency Services Department spokesman.

The suspect was arrested at Kamehameha Highway and Olive Avenue on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder. Police said the two men did not know each other.

LEEWARD OAHU

2 men arrested in Waianae beating

Rifle shots punctuated a beating in Waianae early Saturday that led to two arrests.

Police arrested two men, ages 22 and 23, on Sunday and were looking for a third man who allegedly severely beat a suspected car thief during the incident.

Officers responded to a call about an argument in the parking lot of the Waimaha Sunflower housing project on McArthur Street at about 6:40 a.m. Saturday, police said.

One of the suspects fired a rifle into the air while threatening the victim, described as in his early 20s, police said. A witness said the men assaulted the victim and struck him on the head with the butt of a rifle following an argument about a car he allegedly stole.

One of the suspects fired the rifle into the air again as the beating continued, police said. The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition with severe head injuries, police said.