SUV strikes teen riding mo-ped

A 47-year-old Waimanalo man was arrested yesterday morning after his sport utility vehicle hit and killed a 15-year-old boy in Waimanalo early yesterday morning, police said.

The boy was identified by the Medical Examiner's office as Junior Ilae of Waimanalo.

Police arrested the man on suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, negligent homicide, and driving with a suspended license. He was released pending investigation.

Police said the man's brown Chevy SUV was making a right-hand turn into the Waimanalo Town Center when it hit the boy's 2004 mo-ped traveling in the opposite direction on the shoulder of Kalanianaole Highway.

The boy was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Speed and alcohol appear to be a factors in the crash, police said.

It was the 34th traffic fatality on Oahu this year compared to 27 the same time last year.

Boy dies after being found in car

A 4-year-old boy died yesterday afternoon after he was found in the trunk of a car in a gated community in Iroquois Point, police said.

Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Services Department, said the boy was in critical condition when he was found around 2:30 p.m. yesterday.

The child was taken to the Hawaii Medical Center West, where he died.

Police are investigating the death in the Waterfront at Puuloa complex as an unattended death.

Family escapes from fire at home

A smoke alarm is credited with alerting a family of seven to a fire in a Newtown home early yesterday morning.

Fire department spokesman Capt. Earle Kealoha said the smoke alarm allowed the residents to escape. But, he said, some family members tried to put out the fire with an extinguisher before calling 911, and at least one family member re-entered the two-story home to rescue a pet.

The fire broke out at around 1:35 a.m. yesterday at 98-607 Lania Place in a closet in the downstairs family room of the home. The fire was contained within 45 minutes.

Fire department officials said that a discarded cigarette caused the fire, which caused $70,000 to the home—mostly smoke damage—and its contents.

The four adults and three children living in the house are being helped by the Red Cross.

Man charged in attempted killing

An 18-year-old Palolo man was charged yesterday with second-degree attempted murder for allegedly hitting another man with his sport utility vehicle during a brawl in Kahala.

Christ Ngo of Ahe Street posted $40,000 bail and was released.

Police said shortly after midnight Thursday Ngo intentionally drove into the victim, then fled the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Police arrested Ngo in Palolo on Thursday.