Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Sheraton cleared of safety violations in chef's death

The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel was not in violation of state safety and health laws when an executive chef was stabbed to death by another employee last year, according to the state Occupational Safety and Health Division.

Chef Thomas Matsuda, 43, was killed in the hotel's kitchen Dec. 1, 2000.

Tam Van Huynh, a cook working for Matsuda, has been charged with second-degree murder in the case. Huynh, 39, was suspended from the hotel two years ago after an argument with a co-worker and ordered to undergo counseling.

Huynh is accused of stabbing Matsuda in the stomach after an argument over a work schedule.

The state investigation found no violations of Occupational Safety and Health Division laws.

Sheraton Waikiki management had developed and implemented effective procedures to identify, evaluate and address workplace violence to mitigate employees' risk of harm as well as to prevent recurrence, according to the the state OSHA findings.

Truck driver dies in South Kohala crash

WAIMEA, Hawai'i — A Waimea truck driver died yesterday after his tractor-trailer hit a guard rail and overturned on Waikoloa Road in South Kohala.

Ernest K. Kinney Jr., 70, was pronounced dead at North Hawai'i Community Hospital a little more than four hours after the 8:42 a.m. crash.

Big Island police said Kinney apparently lost control of the 1993 Peterbuilt tractor that was hauling a 13,660-ton trailer loaded with sand. He was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the truck as it slid down the road on its right side and then righted itself.

The upper portion of Waikoloa Road was closed for two hours to allow crews to remove sand from the street.

There have been seven traffic fatalities this year on the Big Island, compared with nine at this time last year.