Man critically hurt in accident

The passenger in a sport utility vehicle was seriously injured yesterday when a Cadillac Escalade struck a utility pole beside Kamehameha Highway near Whitmore Village.

A Honolulu Fire Department crew worked for about 30 minutes with extrication tools to remove the 24-year-old man who was pinned in the vehicle. He was listed in critical condition at the Queen's Medical Center.

Police said the 26-year-old driver of the Wahiawa-bound vehicle fell asleep and the vehicle drifted off the road in the 5:30 a.m. accident near the intersection with Kaukonahua Road.

The driver was treated for minor injuries at Wahiawa General Hospital and arrested on charges of negligent injury and operating a vehicle under the influence. Police said the roadway was wet and that alcohol was a factor in the accident. It was not known if speed was involved. Both men wore seat belts.

Traffic investigators said both men were in the military.

Driver deliberately rams vehicle

A 58-year-old man was drunk when he intentionally rammed his vehicle into another that was carrying three people, then crashed while trying to avoid capture, police said.

The incident happened about 7:40 p.m. Friday. Inside the second car was a 23-year-old woman, a 41-year-old man and a 27-year-old man.

The suspect crashed while trying to flee, police said.

He was arrested three hours later at the Queen's Medical Center on suspicion of two counts of first-degree criminal property damage, third-degree criminal property damage, and driving under the influence of an intoxicant.

Man uses brick in robbery attempt

A 28-year-old man was arrested after he used a brick during a robbery attempt in Waikiki, police said.

About 4:20 p.m. Friday, a 44-year-old woman reported being knocked down after someone hit her with a brick from behind. Police said after the woman fell down, the suspect tried to grab her laptop, but fled when bystanders intervened.

Police arrested the man at his listed residence at the Waikiki Beachside Hostel on Lemon Road.

28 drunken driving arrests made

Police arrested 28 people within seven hours beginning Friday night on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.

The 22 men and six women were arrested on various parts of Oahu between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Most were first-time offenders and posted $500 bail.

One man was a repeat offender, posting $1,000 bail, and another man was released with no charges.

Two people, 19 and 20, under the legal drinking age, were booked on suspicion of driving intoxicated.

Firefighters respond 3 times to blaze

Kauai firefighters responded for a third time yesterday to a persistent brush fire that burned about 20 acres near Lihue Airport.

The blaze first began about 4:15 p.m. Friday and was brought under control by firefighters about three hours later.

Fire crews returned Saturday about midnight to 2 a.m. after the fire rekindled. Hot spots flared up again about 8 a.m.

No one was injured and no structures were threatened.