Rescue of yacht goes awry

A fire rescue boat overturned yesterday while trying to help a 40-foot sailboat that ran aground outside of Ala Wai Boat Harbor.

The grounding began when the yacht, which had mechanical problems, drifted into the shorebreak at about 10:30 a.m., said Honolulu Fire Capt. Earle Kealoha.

Three firefighters responded in a 17-foot Boston Whaler and threw the yacht a rope in an attempt to pull it away from the surf break. But the sailboat drifted again and the whaler overturned.

City Ocean Safety crew members brought four people - two from the yacht, a firefighter and another man who ran into trouble trying to help - back to shore.

A fire helicopter picked up the last two firefighters, while a fire rescue team brought the overturned whaler back in.

No one was injured, Kealoha said.

HONOLULU

11-year-old reports he was robbed

Police are looking for a 14-year-old boy who stole a video game system from an 11-year-old boy near Aala Park.

At about 3 p.m. yesterday, the victim was approached from behind by the suspect, who brandished a pocket knife. The robber then took the boy's PlayStation Portable and fled, police said. No one was injured.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Authorities ID man who died in crash

WAILUKU » The Maui man who died in a fiery crash in Lahaina Wednesday has been identified as Steven McErlane.

McErlane, 46, of Lahaina, died of multiple traumatic injuries in the crash on Honoapiilani Highway, about a tenth of a mile south of Halelo Street, police said Friday.

His 2003 BMW was traveling north when it went off onto the right shoulder and hit a concrete pillar of a golf cart crossing at about 12:26 a.m. and caught fire, traffic investigators said. The vehicle was engulfed in flames by the time police arrived at the scene.

He was the 22nd traffic fatality this year in Maui County, compared with 20 for the same period last year.