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Police and Fire


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POSTED: Sunday, January 10, 2010

Woman struck in crosswalk dies of injuries

A 52-year-old Japanese woman who was struck by a vehicle as she was in a crosswalk in Waikiki died of her injuries Friday, police said.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified the woman yesterday as Sachiko Kojima of Tokyo. Police said Kojima died at the Queen's Medical Center. An autopsy will be performed tomorrow.

About 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Kojima was crossing Kaiolu Street when a van driven by a Waikiki woman turned left from Kuhio Avenue and hit her.

Kojima was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

She was the second traffic fatality on Oahu this year compared with five at this time last year.

1,800-acre brush fire on Big Isle contained

Several agencies on the Big Island continue to fight a brush fire that has burned 1,800 acres in Kealakekua and is polluting air in Kona.

The fire is contained, and crews are still working to extinguishing it, but the terrain has hampered their efforts, Hawaii County Civil Defense officials said yesterday. Private landowners are working with federal, state and local agencies to extinguish the fire, which is burning in ohia and koa trees at the 5,000-foot level of Mauna Loa, authorities said.

Smoke will remain a persistent problem for Kona residents until the fire is completely extinguished, officials said.

Girl injured after car falls in Kaaawa waters

A 4-year-old girl was injured Friday night after the vehicle she was in went into the ocean fronting the Crouching Lion Inn on Kamehameha Highway in Kaaawa.

At about 10:15 p.m., responding firefighters found the vehicle in the ocean along the highway, Honolulu fire Capt. Robert Main said. The male driver and the girl were already out and getting help from bystanders, Main said. The man was not hurt, but the girl had cuts and scratches on her face, Main said. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

Dad allegedly struck teenage daughter

Police arrested a 63-year-old Kalihi man for allegedly punching his 16-year-old daughter last month.

The girl told her teacher Friday that her father punched her in the face and then threatened her with a knife about 11 p.m. Dec. 28, police said. The girl was taken into custody by Child Welfare Services.

About 9:25 p.m. Friday, officers arrested the man at his Dillingham Boulevard home on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening and abuse of a family member.

Man, 20, in custody for alleged gun threat

A 20-year-old Hahaione Valley man has been booked for terroristic threatening for allegedly pointing a shotgun at a stranger in Hawaii Kai.

Police said the man was arguing with a 36-year-old man on Nov. 30 when he allegedly pointed the gun at the older man and threatened to shoot. The suspect fled, but was arrested at the main police station Friday.