The driver of a blue-and-white 1993 Chevrolet pickup died early yesterday when he veered off the Pali Highway and hit a tree.

City medical examiners identified the man as Russell Montalbo, 49, of Waipahu.

He was traveling townbound at 4 a.m., when he veered off the road just beyond the entrance to the Pali Lookout, police said.

The man died en route to The Queen's Medical Center.

He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. The roadway was well lit, but was wet from rain. Traffic was light. It was not known if speed or alcohol were factors.

Parolee accused of attempted murder

A man on parole for a 1994 burglary that ended in the beating death of a Makiki woman faces an attempted murder charge in a shotgun assault Saturday on Keolu Drive.

A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday in the case of Harry Kauhi Jr., 48, who is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail.

Kauhi, who pleaded guilty to burglary in the 1994 break-in at the home of Ellen Lum, is the brother of Samson Kauhi, convicted of murdering Lum, 74.

Harry Kauhi also is charged with robbery, kidnapping, burglary, terroristic threatening and various firearms and parole offenses.

Police said Kauhi went to the Kailua home at about 10:40 p.m., knocked on the door and hid. When the 22-year-old victim emerged, Kauhi allegedly came out and pointed a shotgun at him and forced his way into the home.

While inside, Kauhi allegedly assaulted the victim twice with the barrel of the gun, forced him into the back yard and demanded money and car keys. Kauhi then allegedly forced the victim back toward a second house on the property, and when the victim's father and a female witness emerged, he pointed the shotgun at them, police said.

The victim struggled with Kauhi who then allegedly pointed the gun at the victim's stomach and pulled the trigger, police said. The shotgun didn't fire.

The victim and his father then seized Kauhi, detectives said, and police were called.

FBI looks into recent robberies

Federal agents are investigating a recent series of robberies targeting pizza delivery workers and have charged one suspect in connection with the crimes.

Brandon Doan, 18, was charged in connection with the robberies and was scheduled for a detention hearing today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Chang. Police detectives said three other suspects have been identified; FBI agent John Gillis confirmed that the investigation is continuing.

Police arrested Doan on Friday, using a federal arrest warrant, and turned the case over to the FBI, said Lt. Raymond Quon, who heads the police robbery detail. The federal government can prosecute in this case because the robberies interfere with interstate commerce, Quon said.

The heists occurred March 24 and 27 and April 10 and 14 at various Honolulu locations, involving suspects who held up pizza delivery personnel at knifepoint.

Pedestrian dies after being hit

A 77-year-old Honolulu man died last night of his injuries following a pedestrian accident yesterday at the corner of South King and Bishop streets.

Police said that at 3:19 p.m. the man was crossing South King near the Bishop intersection on a "don't walk" signal and was outside the crosswalk.

He was struck by a 1979 Dodge pickup truck heading east on South King. The driver was a 44-year-old Honolulu man.

The victim was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, but his condition soon deteriorated and he was pronounced dead at 7 p.m.

Three hospitalized after crash

A 46-year-old woman and her 1-year-old grandson remain hospitalized at The Queen's Medical Center today following a two-car accident yesterday at the intersection of Kaukonahua and Kamananui roads.

The accident happened at 1:23 p.m. when a 2002 Dodge Intrepid heading south on Kaukonahua Road entered the intersection and struck a 1998 Volkswagen Jetta on Kamananui. The Jetta had stopped at the stop sign before entering the intersection, police said.

Police said the driver of the Jetta, a 21-year-old-woman, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in serious condition; Queen's had no updated information on her condition today. Her two passengers, the woman and toddler, were in critical condition. Police said the child was upgraded to serious condition; a Queen's spokesperson said the woman today was listed in guarded condition.

The Intrepid was driven by a 38-year-old woman; both she and her passenger, a 76-year-old woman, were treated at Wahiawa General Hospital and released.

2 suspects sought in Waikiki robbery

Police this morning arrested a 21-year-old 'Ewa Beach woman and are seeking two men in connection with armed robbery of a Japanese tourist in his Waikiki hotel room just after midnight today.

The robbery was reported at 12:02 a.m. at the Honolulu Prince Hotel, 415 Nahua Ave. Detectives said the tourist, 38, heard a knock at his door and opened it to find one of the suspects, whom he had met earlier in the day.

When he opened the door, police said, the woman and two men forced their way into the room. One man allegedly held a gun to his head and tied him with duct tape; all three fled with his property.