Police Beat
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Big Island truck driver dies in crash
A 58-year-old Puna man was killed yesterday after his dump truck crashed in South Kohala.
Police identified the victim as Gordon Halsey of Mountain View. Police said Halsey was driving on Waikoloa Road near the seven-mile marker when the truck struck a guardrail and overturned shortly before 11:30 a.m.
The victim was thrown from the vehicle and sustained severe head and chest injuries, police said. Halsey was taken to North Hawai'i Community Hospital, and pronounced dead at 12:03 p.m.
Witnesses told police that the truck was speeding as it passed them on Waikoloa Road. An investigation is under way.
Halsey's death was the 26th traffic fatality so far this year on the Big Island, compared with 34 at the same time last year.
Hiker identified in ridge fatality
Torry Bingham, 28, of Kane'ohe has been identified by the medical examiner's office as the hiker who fell to his death Nov. 25 in the mountains above Ka'a'awa.
Bingham had been hiking with friends on a ridge trail mauka of Swanzy Beach Park when he slipped and fell 200 to 250 feet.
Stabbings prompt police investigation
Police have opened an attempted murder investigation in connection with a fight early yesterday outside Players Sports & Entertainment Club in which two men were stabbed.
The fight broke out shortly before 2 a.m. outside 1442 University Ave., involving two men, ages 20 and 23, and a group of eight other men.
The two men were stabbed, and the group of eight fled in two vehicles, according to police.
Motorcyclist hurt critically in crash
A 45-year-old man was in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center after a motorcycle accident Thursday night in a Kane'ohe residential neighborhood.
Police said the man was riding his yellow 2000 Harley-Davidson, headed south on Po'okela Street, when he braked, lost control of the motorcycle and fell. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered serious head injuries.
Speed may have been a cause of the accident, police said.
