Search goes on for man lost in Wailuku River

Fire rescue personnel are expected to search for a third day today for a missing cruise ship employee who was last seen Tuesday afternoon trying to swim across the Wailuku River at Boiling Pots near Pe'e Pe'e Falls Road.

Dive teams entered and searched the river yesterday, but found no trace of the missing man.

On Tuesday, fire personnel kept their efforts to a ground search along the banks of the river to Reeds Island since the water was too rough to enter, with strong rapids due to heavy rain and rocks. This effort was also repeated yesterday.

Fire officials said the man was swimming with friends who said they last saw him trying to swim to the other side of the river, which was described as having strong rapids due to rain.

Police identified the missing man as Ryan J. Ritzel, 24, of Soquel, Calif., who was swimming with five co-workers.

Fire started with gas destroys Big Isle home

A Big Island resident filling a generator with gas while it was running started a fire that destroyed his home in the Hawaiian Acres subdivision in Kurtistown Tuesday night.

Fourteen Big Island firefighters responded to the fire at the 400-square-foot home on Road 3 at 10:38 p.m. The fire was reported extinguished at 11:45 p.m.

The resident was taken to a local hospital with superficial burns, the fire department reported.

Damage to the building was set at $15,000.

Man held in alleged attack with hot coffee

A 73-year-old man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly throwing hot coffee in his ex-girlfriend's face.

Police said the 45-year-old woman and the man were involved in an argument at 2:20 p.m. Tuesday when he allegedly threw the coffee at her face, causing second-degree burns.

The woman called her two sons, and they came to her Salt Lake house, where they allegedly beat up the man.

The 73-year-old was taken in serious condition to the hospital. The woman was also transported to the hospital for treatment of her burns.

Police arrested the 73-year-old man at the Queen's Medical Center on suspicion of second-degree assault. Officers also arrested the two sons, ages 24 and 20, at their mother's home on suspicion of second-degree assault.