Man is sought in 3 bank heists

Police are asking for help identifying a man who may have robbed the Ward Avenue First Hawaiian Bank three times in two weeks.

A male entered the bank at 250 Ward Ave. and approached the teller at 10:30 a.m. yesterday, wielding a handgun and demanding money.

The suspect was wearing a white surgical mask, blue hat, light-colored T-shirt, blue denim pants and white sneakers. He is about 6 feet tall, 170 to 175 pounds.

The description is similar to those of suspects in two previous robberies at the same bank, leading police to suspect the robbers are the same.

Call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.

17-year-old girl dies after crash

A 17-year-old Waikoloa girl died from injuries she received in a head-on crash Tuesday night on Queen Kaahumanu Highway at the 88-mile marker in North Kona.

Big Island police identified the victim as Angela Apostadiro, who was a passenger in one of the vehicles. The driver of the other car was arrested and charged with several counts, including drunken driving.

Kona patrol officers said Joseph Edgar Jr., 21, of Kealakekua was driving a 2005 Hyundai sport utility vehicle south on Queen Kaahumanu Highway about 8 p.m. when he overtook a vehicle. He continued south on the northbound shoulder and passed other vehicles traveling northbound while in the shoulder lane.

Edgar's SUV collided with a taxi, a 2000 GMC van, traveling north and driven by a 50-year-old Waikoloa woman. Apostadiro was a front-seat passenger in the taxi and was the daughter of the driver.

Both drivers and an 88-year-old woman visiting from France, who may have been a fare in the taxi, were taken to the Kona Community Hospital, police said. They were listed in serious condition. The 88-year-old woman was later transferred to the Queen's Medical Center for further treatment.

Edgar was charged with negligent homicide, negligent injury, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and reckless driving.

Ex-coach arrested on DUI charge

Retired Farrington High School football coaching legend Edward “;Skippa”; Diaz was arrested last week for allegedly driving drunk.

Police booked Diaz on Friday on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, which relates to a blood alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.14.

Diaz, of Pacific Palisades, was stopped at Puu Momi Street and Kamehameha Highway at 1:50 a.m. He had not been charged several hours later, according to a police booking report.

Diaz, who also served as city deputy parks director, appeared today on the Honolulu Police Department's online listing of drivers arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated last week. The Web page is at http://www.hsblinks.com/223.