Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff
Crash kills driver on Saddle Road
POHAKULOA, Hawai'i — One driver was killed and another seriously injured yesterday morning in a head-on crash on the Saddle Road that shut down the east-west route for more than six hours.
Travel on the Big Island was further complicated yesterday afternoon when a large tree fell across the Mud Land stretch of the Hawai'i Belt Highway, blocking traffic between Hilo and Waimea at the 45-mile marker for more than an hour.
Police said Steffen Erler, 50, of Washington state, lost control of his rental car near the 25-mile marker of the Saddle Road. The car collided with a vehicle driven by Cal Goulette, 44, of Kaumana.
Police said Erler was headed eastward at 9:53 a.m. when the accident occurred. Goulette was westbound.
Goulette, who was en route to his job at a Kona restaurant, died at the scene.
The county fire rescue squad used a helicopter to take Erler to Hilo Medical Center where a report on his condition was unavailable last night.
Hilo patrol Lt. Kenneth Vierra attributed the duration of yesterday's road closure to a combination of the on-scene investigation and cleanup by Hawai'i County crews, including removal of oil on the pavement.
Maui expecting extra $3 million
WAILUKU, Maui — An estimate of Maui County property tax revenue for fiscal 2001-02 turned out to be low, giving the county a windfall of $3.1 million, Mayor James "Kimo'' Apana announced yesterday.
Wesley Lo, county finance director, said fewer taxpayers appealed their real property tax valuations,and in generally lesser amounts, thereby adding to estimated tax revenue.
The Maui County Council is deliberating the mayor's proposed $300 million budget.
Apana said he'd like the windfall money allocated to such purposes as road paving, the hiring of more water safety officers and designing a master plan for a regional Kihei park system.
Maui girl remains in critical condition
A Maui girl remained in critical condition yesterday at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children for injuries suffered as a result of suspected child abuse.
The mother of the 2-year-old Ha'iku girl sought medical attention for the child Monday from a Maui pediatrician, who notified police. The girl was placed under the care of Child Welfare Services and transferred to the Honolulu hospital. No arrests have been made.
Five arrests linked to koa harvesting
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Five men have been arrested for allegedly harvesting highly prized koa trees in state parks and forests in Koke'e without permits, state officials said.
Department of Land and Natural Resources officers earlier this month recovered more than 50 logs from the homes of some of those arrested, said Tarey Low of the department's Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
The five men, who face possible felony charges, were released pending further investigation, according to Low.
Low said the men planned to sell the wood, which is used in furniture, handcrafts and canoe-building.
The arrests, based on an anonymous tip, were made April 1 and April 3 at homes in Kalaheo. The county prosecutor is reviewing the case to determine what charges to bring.
