Baby dies, mother hurt in accident on Big Island

A 1-year-old Big Island girl died and her 25-year-old mother was in critical condition yesterday after their car was hit at 7:28 p.m. Saturday by a Toyota pickup truck in Kailua-Kona. Police identified the girl as Aliyah Braden of Captain Cook.

Kona police arrested the truck driver, a 49-year-old Captain Cook woman, on suspicion of manslaughter, driving under the influence of an intoxicant, reckless driving and inattention to driving. She was being held last night at the Kealakehe police station, police said.

Her 50-year-old husband, a passenger, was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide but was later released.

Police said the pickup driver was heading south on Kuakini Highway, ran a red light, struck a traffic pole, then hit the car, which was eastbound on Lako Street and making a left onto Kuakini.

The woman and her baby were taken to Kona Community Hospital after the accident. The infant, who had been in a car seat in the back of the sedan, was pronounced dead at 8:23 p.m.

The mother was later flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

Landlord and neighbor arrested in Kahaluu theft

A rental dispute has led to the arrest of a Kahaluu landlord and a neighbor.

Police said a man, 38, agreed to rent a room in the home of a 56-year-old man. But before signing a lease, the tenant went to the mainland after a death in his family, leaving all his belongings.

When he returned, he found his belongings removed and two motorcycle engines and a motorcycle frame gone from a common area, police said. Police arrested the would-be landlord and neighbor Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. They were released pending investigation.