Posted at 11:08 a.m., Tuesday, December 11, 2001
Another HPD car wreck display torched
By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu Police Officer Eli Walters has a message to get across to holiday drivers, and he's not going to let the repeated interference of arsonists and thieves stop him.
The message — "Drive To Stay Alive " — is aimed at curbing drunken driving, speeding and driving without seat belts and was bannered on a wrecked car on display at the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Meheula Parkway in Mililani.
At 1:20 a.m. today, someone poured a flammable liquid onto the display and torched it, and stole the banner, too.
It was the second time Walters' display was struck. An arsonist set fire June 15 to a similar display on Kaukonahua Road, one that Walters had erected near the site of the April 10 traffic death of two teenagers, an accident caused by recklessness by a caravan of 11 drivers.
That time, the fire caused $9,000 in damage to the loaned Army trailer on which the wrecked car sat.
So when Walters was called by City Council member Rene Mansho to put up the display again, he hesitated. Mansho wanted the display, he said, to coincide with an islandwide safe-driving sign-waving campaign.
The Army insisted on a $100,000 surety bond before loaning another trailer, so Walters turned instead to private sources. Akana Truck loaned the trailer used at Mililani and Pineridge Farms brought in another for a second Kaukonahua Road display.
A patrol officer spotted the fire just after it was lit and alerted firefighters immediately, Walters said, which is why damage was limited to about $500.
Walters witnessed the wreckage of the April car accident. "It was metal versus human being," he said.
Walters feels passionate about the educational mission of the display.
"This is serious to us," he said. "And this is senseless and stupid."
Walters had wanted to keep up the display through the holidays but now may remove it after the signwaving. Mansho was unavailable for comment this morning.
"I can't take the chance," he said. "And I don't have any more money for banners... I've got to get some guidance from above."
