Driver dies after car goes off bridge

A 21-year-old Kalaheo man died yesterday morning in a single-car crash in Omao, Kauai police said.

Preston Ramson was headed west on Kaumualii Highway when the car he was driving left the road, clipped a utility pole and the end of Omao Bridge and plunged to the bottom of a 40-foot ravine, police said. Omao is a few miles east of Kalaheo.

Ramson's vehicle was discovered by patrol officers at 1:37 a.m. Police say speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash. Ramson is the eighth traffic fatality on Kauai so far this year.

Pole with blade used in threat

Police charged a 28-year-old Pearl City man who allegedly threatened a police officer with a pole with a blade attached.

Troy A. Yoshida was arrested and charged Tuesday with first-degree terroristic threatening, reckless driving and resisting arrest.

Yoshida was stopped by a police officer for reckless driving. The officer was in the process of arresting Yoshida, when he held up the pole, police said. The officer commanded him to put it down, and the man complied.

Police allege Yoshida resisted arrest and was combative, so the officer was forced to use pepper spray to get him to comply. His bail was set at $3,000.

Man charged in attack on girlfriend

Police arrested a 40-year-old Ewa Beach man who allegedly hit his 30-year-old girlfriend with a fishing pole and threatened her with a baseball bat.

Police said the man and woman live together and got into an argument at their Ewa Beach home.

The man allegedly hit the woman with a fishing pole at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday and later threatened her with a baseball bat.

While the woman was calling 911, her boyfriend got upset and threw the phone on the ground, breaking it.

Responding police arrested the man on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening, abuse of a household member and interfering with a 911 call.

Haunted house event to benefit Waianae shelter

The public is invited to experience “;13 Rooms of Horror,”; a haunted house fundraiser at the Waianae Civic Center to benefit the Waianae homeless shelter, starting today.

Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 at the gate.

The event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. through Saturday at the civic center next to the Waianae Neighborhood Community Center.

Proceeds will go to support the first “;Taste of Cultural Diversity”; event at Pai'olu Kaiaulu scheduled for March 6.

Proceeds will also benefit homeless families, individuals and veterans living on the Leeward Coast.

For more information, call 696-6770.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

2 people hurt, 2 pigs killed in car crash

A 150-pound wild pregnant sow and her 50-pound baby pig were killed by a car that then collided with the Kauai Bus and slightly injured the two drivers Tuesday morning on Kaumualii Highway near the entrance to Kahili Mountain Park.

Police said the accident occurred at 5:13 a.m., while it was still dark.

The eastbound car collided with the pigs, killing both on impact, and then spun out of control and into the westbound lane, hitting the Kauai Bus, according to police.

The drivers of both vehicles in the crash were taken to Wilcox Hospital, where they were treated and released.

Kaumualii Highway was closed for about 45 minutes before the eastbound lane was reopened. Traffic flowed alternately until the roadway was completely cleared an hour later.