Man injured in Nanakuli crash

A 61-year-old man was hospitalized in critical condition after he rear-ended another vehicle early yesterday morning in Nanakuli.

Police said a 2006 Isuzu Ascender driven by the man rear-ended a van stopped at a red light on Farrington Highway near Helelua Street at about 4 a.m.

The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, but his condition worsened to critical.

The 39-year-old woman driving the van was not injured.

LEEWARD OAHU

Armed robber gets only cigarettes

Police are looking for a man who robbed a Waipahu gas station armed with an 18-inch butcher knife and wearing sheer black pantyhose over his head.

The robbery occurred at the Tesoro, 94-120 Farrington Highway, at about 4:15 a.m. yesterday. Police said the man jumped the counter, pointed the knife at the cashier and demanded money from the cash register.

Police said that when the 59-year-old woman tending the register couldn't open it, the robber took three packs of USA Gold cigarettes and fled.

HONOLULU

Man who allegedly hit officer is held

Police arrested a 27-year-old man wanted for allegedly hitting a police officer with a vehicle Tuesday.

Police located the suspect, who has no local address, on Kaonohi Street Friday night. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree forgery and resisting arrest.

The suspect allegedly struck a 37-year-old patrol officer twice with a Ford Focus in the parking lot of the Money Mart on 435 Atkinson Drive while trying to flee. The officer was responding to a report of a man trying to cash a suspicious check at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The officer suffered only minor injuries and drove himself to the hospital.

The suspect sped away onto Kahakai Drive, driving the wrong way, and abandoned the car in the rear of the Atkinson Towers apartment building. The car was not registered to the suspect.

At the time, police said they knew the identity of the suspect.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Motorcyclist killed in crash on Maui

A 40-year-old Kula man died after his motorcycle crashed Friday afternoon on Maui.

Police said the man failed to make a turn on Kekaulike Highway near mile marker 7 shortly before 2:15 p.m.

The victim, 40-year-old Michael Lorlaux, was operating a 400cc 2003 Kawasaki KLX dirt bike on Kekaulike Highway, headed in the Pukalani direction, and collided into a guard rail. He died at the scene. He was not wearing a helmet or protective eye gear.

Police are investigating whether speed, alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash. Lorlaux is Maui's 16th traffic fatality of the year, compared with 17 at this time last year. It also is the sixth motorcycle death on Maui this year.