Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
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| Investigators examine the site where a body was found in a burning van on Kunia Road.
Chopper 8 |
Police homicide detectives were called to investigate a body discovered yesterday morning when firefighters were putting out fires in three vehicles at a Kunia Road business.
Firefighters were called at 6:08 a.m. to extinguish fires in three vehicles at Garst Seed Co. at 98-880 Kunia Road.
When they arrived, they found a 20-passenger bus, a compact pickup and a passenger van all on fire, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, fire department spokesman.
The body was found in the passenger van, he said.
"They were heavily involved with fire," he said. "Firefighters could hear the tires exploding when they arrived."
The burning vehicles were in a maintenance area for the seed company.
Fire investigators were called to determine the cause of the blaze.
The medical examiner said the body appeared to be that of a woman in her 40s.
Part of Kunia Road to remain closed
Kunia Road near the Hawai'i Country Club Golf Course remained closed to traffic yesterday morning as Hawaiian Electric Co. crews worked on a fallen utility pole and two damaged utility poles.
The road has been closed since yesterday afternoon.
The problems with the wood poles began at 1:38 p.m. yesterday, said Fred Kobashikawa, HECO spokesman. It was not yet clear, however, what caused the damage, he said.
One pole was down across the road, a second was leaning badly and a third was leaning slightly.
Police stopped traffic between Anonui Street and Foote Gate at Schofield Barracks.
Three injured in Kane'ohe crash
Three people were hospitalized when a driver ignored a stop sign and slammed into a passenger van last night in Kane'ohe, police said.
One of the injured was an 11-year-old girl in the van.
Police said a 19-year-old man was driving a 1998 blue Dodge Neon northwest on Makalani Street and ignored a stop sign about 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Puohala Street.
The Neon broadsided a 1994 Dodge Caravan traveling south on Puohala. A 52-year-old man was driving the van.
Both drivers and the 11-year-old girl were taken to The Queen's Medical Center.
The van's driver and the girl were in critical condition as of last night. The Neon driver was in fair condition. Police say speed may have been factor in the collision.
Suspect in beating sought
HILO — Big Island police are seeking the public's help in finding a suspect in the Dec. 23 beating of a 29-year-old man found unconscious on a sidewalk on 'Ohai Street.
The suspect is Dion J. Alvarez, 18, who lives on 'Ohai Street, police said. He reportedly fled after the attack and may be traveling in a white, two-door passenger sedan, possibly an Oldsmobile. Police said he is considered dangerous and should not be approached.
Police have classified the attack as an attempted murder.
The victim, Franklin Matias, was last reported in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center.
Anyone with information on Alvarez's whereabouts should call detective Jeremie Evangelista at (808) 961-2377, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.
Youth charged in robberies
HILO — Big Island police have charged a 17-year-old Hilo youth with two Christmas Day robberies.
The suspect was turned over to Family Court jurisdiction, Capt. James Day said.
The first robbery occurred at 11:15 a.m. when a 60-year-old man was struck on the head as he walked along Kamehameha Avenue in downtown Hilo. The robber took his wallet. At 3 p.m., a thief grabbed a 42-year-old woman's purse while she was walking on Kilauea Avenue.
