Motorcycle accident kills Marine

A 24-year-old Marine died yesterday morning in a motorcycle crash in which he was believed to be speeding, police said.

The man, who was stationed at Camp Smith, was heading Waianae-bound on the H-1 freeway near Kualakai Parkway when he rear-ended another motorcyclist about 4:20 a.m., police said. The Marine was ejected from his motorcycle and dragged on the roadway.

Police said he died at the scene while a 31-year-old Kapolei man who was driving the second motorcycle was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition.

Man admits to burning own home

A 30-year-old man who confessed to starting a McCully house fire that displaced 18 people Friday morning was also a resident, police said. Police booked him on suspicion of first-degree arson at 2:05 p.m. Friday.

The fire started about 3:40 a.m. at 760 Hauoli St. and destroyed two of four apartments in the two-story building, causing about $600,000 in damage.

Police said a neighbor walking toward the burning building saw two men running toward him, then run in the opposite direction after they saw him coming. Later in the afternoon, a woman at the residence saw the two men and told police. The suspect confessed, and the second man, 23, was released pending investigation, police said.