A 33-year-old man has been charged with first-degree criminal property damage after he allegedly rear-ended another car in an attempt to escape Ward Centre security guards.

Michael Hong is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail in connection with the incident, which occurred at 3:20 p.m. Monday.

Ward security officials said guards had approached the man after observing "suspicious" behavior, and he fled. Police said the man drove out of the parking lot and struck the car of a 30-year-old woman several times, in the lot and out in traffic.

Victim struck by car on sidewalk

A 79-year-old man was hospitalized after being struck by a car on Kamehameha IV Road at 5:30 a.m. today, near the Keha Place intersection.

The victim told fire department crews that he was struck from behind, while on the sidewalk, by a vehicle traveling in the diamondhead-bound lanes. Further details on the accident were unavailable.

Ambulance officials said he was taken to The Queen's Medical Center. Police said his condition was serious, but the hospital listed his condition as guarded.

Man sought in Kailua robbery

A man in his 20s is being sought after an armed robbery today at Cory's Kailua Shell station, 434 Ku'ulei Road.

Police said the man entered the store at 3:23 a.m., took out a handgun and demanded money from the cashier. The lone employee on duty gave the man an unknown amount of cash, and the robber fled on foot.

Tractor stolen from Hickam AFB

Honolulu and military police are asking for leads to help solve the theft of a Caterpillar IT tractor from Hickam Air Force Base, between May 29 and June 12.

The 1999 Caterpillar backhoe-loader, Model 416C IT, is valued at $54,000. Police said there is only one other IT model on O'ahu.

The tractor has a clamshell-type bucket in front, and the front grille has two fist-sized dents. An accessory kit, including a removable forklift attachment and four additional black backhoe buckets, also was stolen.

Anyone with information about the stolen tractor should call investigator Rodney Lambert at the Hickam Law Enforcement Desk at 449-6373 or 449-6372.

Anonymous calls are taken at CrimeStoppers, 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Big Island girl dies after van overturns

VOLCANO, Hawai'i ­ A 17-year-old Kea'au girl died Monday at The Queen's Medical Center after being injured in a Big Island crash late Saturday night.

Joanne-Portia Albano was thrown from a van that went out of control near the main entrance to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at the 219-mile marker on the Hawai'i Belt Road, park rangers said