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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, March 5, 2002

Motorist slides into tree
Bane Arai, 24, of Kahala walks past his 2001 Jetta, which slammed into a tree on Roundtop Drive, he said, when he swerved to avoid a cat.

Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Brake failure may have caused fatality

Traffic investigators yesterday said they would examine the van involved in Sunday's fatal accident on Wai'alae Nui Ridge to determine whether brake failure was a factor.

The city medical examiner's office has identified the driver killed in the 1:30 p.m. accident as Hugo Michael Pozdena, 57, of Waikiki.

Pozdena lost control of his van on Halekoa Drive and drove through part of a house and over a cliff. He was ejected and pinned under the van. He died from injuries suffered in the crash, the medical examiner said.

Sgt. Alan Vegas, a police traffic investigator, said the absence of skid marks suggested brake failure as a possible cause, and that the trajectory of the plunge was a possible indicator of speeding.

The van belonged to Island Demo, Vegas said, and the company needs to arrange for removing the van from the residential yard.

Pozdena was not wearing a seat belt, and the van was not equipped with air bags, Vegas said.


Separate fires damage apartments

Firefighters were called to battle studio apartment fires in Waikiki and Kalihi within an hour yesterday morning.

The first apartment, at 2462 Kuhio Ave., was gutted in the blaze, which broke out at 9:26 a.m.

The woman who lives in the apartment was not home at the time of the fire, but a cat in the apartment died in the fire, said Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

Two men who live in a neighboring unit were helping to douse the fire when units arrived. The two were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire was under control at 9:30 a.m. The fire caused an estimated $30,000 in damage to the building and $10,000 in damage to contents, Soo said.

The second fire was reported at 10:20 a.m at 607 N. King St., near Pua Lane. Three engine companies and a ladder company were dispatched. No one was at home in the upstairs studio apartment, Soo said, but two security guards who tried to check on any residents were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire caused an estimated $3,000 damage to the structure and $1,500 damage to its contents.


Teens sought in Big Island robbery

HILO, Hawai'i — Police are investigating the assault and robbery of two boys Saturday night at Prince Kuhio Plaza.

A 13-year-old boy and his friend were injured when two older teenagers robbed the boy of his necklace around 6:30 p.m., said Sgt. Raymond Rodrigues. Both victims were treated at Hilo Medical Center for head and facial injuries.

The robbers, believed to be between the ages of 14 and 18, fled on foot toward East Pu'ainako Avenue, Rodrigues said.

One of the culprits was described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 200 pounds. He wore a dark-colored cap, a green T-shirt and dark shorts. The second was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a slim build. He was wearing denim shorts and a white T-shirt.

Anyone with information on the case should call the police nonemergency police line at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers in Hilo at (808) 961-8300.


Police searching for Kapoho man

HILO, Hawai'i — Police are asking for the public's help in locating a Kapoho man missing since Feb. 24.

Detective Richard Miyamoto said Robert Dean Corsant Jr., 31, was driving a white 1988 Isuzu Trooper, license plate HTY-962, that is also missing. Corsant, who lived alone, is described as 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 250 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Miyamoto at (808) 961-2381; or the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311; CrimeStoppers in Hilo at (808) 961-8300; or in Kona at (808) 329-8181.