Neighbor Island briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
MAUI
Pedestrian hit on Maui named
A pedestrian who was struck and killed by a car Tuesday morning in Kihei has been identified as Michael Madison of Maui.
Madison, 52, who police said had no local address, suffered massive head injuries when he was hit by a car on South Kihei Road just before 5 a.m.
Police said he was crossing mauka-bound near a crosswalk when he was hit.
He was pronounced dead at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
BIG ISLAND
Driver killed in head-on crash
A 45-year-old Kona man died and another from Ka'u was seriously injured in a head-on collision Tuesday afternoon on the Hawai'i Belt Road (Route 11) near the 87-mile marker in South Kona.
James Kaupu of Honomalino was killed. The injured man was identified as Dan Yamamoto, 42, of Naalehu.
Police said the collision happened just before 3:38 p.m. when Yamamoto, driving a 1990 Honda, overtook two vehicles and hit a 1994 Plymouth sedan driven by Kaupu.
The drivers were taken to Kona Community Hospital. Yamamoto, who was transported by helicopter, was later flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.
Kaupu was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.
The two cars that passed right before the crash left the scene before police arrived.
Traffic officers have opened a negligent-homicide case and are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Donald Hall of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 326-4277.
697 marijuana plants seized
KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — West Hawai'i vice officers seized 697 marijuana plants Monday and Tuesday with the help of personnel and equipment from the Hawai'i Air National Guard and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Police Lt. Robert Hickox yesterday said the helicopter operation covered areas from Kalaoa in North Kona to Discovery Harbour in Ka'u.
The plants ranged in size from seedlings to bushes 5 feet tall, he said. No arrests were made.
Purse snatcher sought in Hilo
Big Island police are investigating the robbery of a 43-year-old woman at a Hilo shopping center.
Police said the woman was sitting outside an office at the Prince Kuhio Plaza a little before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday when a man approached and asked her what time it was. He grabbed her purse before she could answer.
The woman held on to her purse and was dragged about 100 feet on the parking lot pavement until the straps broke and the thief ran away.
She declined medical treatment.
The woman described the robber as 5 feet 9 inches, with a medium build, pony trail and a mustache.
Anyone with information is asked to call Jeffrey Flores of the South Hilo Patrol Division at 961-2213, Andrew Burian of the Hilo Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2379 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.
Calls can also be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
