Kaaawa crash kills 1

Oahu registered its first 2010 traffic fatality on the first day of the year with the death of a woman in a single-vehicle crash in Kaaawa.

The 4:40 p.m. crash near Kaaawa Beach Park injured three other people who were taken to hospitals by ambulance. A woman in her 70s was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:26 p.m., according to Bryan Cheplic of the city Emergency Medical Service.

A woman in her 50s was listed in serious condition, and a man in his 50s and a teenage boy were listed in stable condition, Cheplic said.

Kamehameha Highway was closed in both directions until after 8 p.m., when one lane was opened for contraflow traffic.

Investigators remained at the scene late last night and details of the crash were not available.

There were 54 fatal traffic accidents on Oahu last year.

'Mystery shopper' scam circulates

Big Island police are warning the public about a common Internet scam that in its latest version promises a job as a “;mystery shopper.”;

A 31-year-old Waimea woman applied for the job online and received a $1,600 check from the purported employers, police said. The employers e-mailed her instructions to cash the check, keep $300, and return $1,300 by Western Union.

After doing that, the woman found out the $1,600 check was bogus, police said. The case is being investigated as a theft.

Police advise the public to be suspicious of anyone who sends a check and then asks for some money back because it is a common scam.