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Accused auto thief unfit to stand trial

Circuit Judge Renaldo Graulty has declared accused auto thief Leonard Moore unfit to stand trial.

Three court-appointed psychiatrists or psychologists were divided in their opinions as to whether Moore was competent enough to aid in his own defense.

He was arrested in October after he allegedly drove a stolen Toyota Corolla through a stop sign in Waikiki. Moore 35, was sent to the Hawai'i State Hospital in Kane'ohe May 20 to determine if he was fit to stand trial on the auto theft charges.

He has escaped from the hospital twice, first by throwing a television through a window and later by throwing a table through another window. His escapes were among a series by patients from the Kane'ohe facility this year.

Moore must now answer to the escape charges and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Men in wheelchairs critically injured

Two men in wheelchairs were critically injured when they were struck by vehicles in separate accidents yesterday and Thursday.

A 22-year-old Honolulu man was run over in his wheelchair yesterday by a truck but the driver may not have been able to see him.

Police said the 41-year-old driver, also of Honolulu, was heading north on Awa Street in a 2000 Dodge Ram just before 9 a.m. and was turning left onto South King Street when he struck the wheelchair.

The 22-year-old victim, who was traveling south on the south sidewalk of South King Street, was thrown from his chair and run over.

The younger man was taken by ambulance to the Queen's Medical Center. His condition was first classified as serious, but it was later downgraded to critical.

Police said alcohol and speed were not likely factors in the accident.

In the other accident, a 46-year-old Kailua man was hit by a pickup truck at about 2:30 p.m. Thursday as he crossed Kihapai Place, about 30 feet west of Hahani Street, in his wheelchair. He was struck by a 1998 Ford Ranger driven by a 61-year-old Kailua man.

The younger man was taken to Castle Medical Center in good to stable condition, but his conditioned worsened and he was transferred to the Queen's Medical Center.

A nursing supervisor said he was in critical condition yesterday.

Woman critically injured in accident

A 48-year-old woman was critically injured yesterday when her car was broadsided by another car in Kaka'ako.

Police said the woman was driving south on Cooke Street when a car driven by a 37-year-old man ran a red light and struck the woman's car at about 10:30 a.m. The two cars were then struck by a third car that was heading north on Cooke Street, police said.

The 48-year-old driver of the southbound car was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition with head and chest injuries. But police said her condition was downgraded to critical yesterday afternoon.

The drivers of the two other cars were not injured, police said.

Dead Japanese snorkeler identified

Hiroyoshi Fukasawa, 69, has been identified by the medical examiner's office as the Japanese tourist who died while snorkeling in Kane'ohe Bay on Wednesday. The cause of death has not been determined.

Fukasawa was from Yamanashi prefecture near Mount Fuji.

Fukasawa was taken to He'eia Kea Boat Harbor at about 11 a.m. and then by ambulance to Castle Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Man released after being questioned

WAILUKU, Maui — Police have released a 39-year-old man questioned in the shooting death of a woman whose body was found Tuesday in a Pulehu sugar cane field.

The man, who was not charged, was an acquaintance of the woman, Natalie Sagawinit, 44, of Pukalani.

Maui detectives have not released any details about the case.

Itinerant man dies near Hilo Hotel

HILO, Hawai'i — An itinerant Hilo man was found unconscious near the former Hilo Hotel on Kino'ole Street downtown yesterday morning and was pronounced dead on arrival at Hilo Medical Center.

Police said the 47-year-old man was tentatively identified, but his name was being withheld until family members could be contacted. An autopsy is scheduled for next week.

Police said the man had no visible signs of injury.

The hotel is under renovation as a homeless shelter but has not been occupied yet.