Posted on: Tuesday, August 17, 2004
HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Boy hit by truck on highway dies
Advertiser Staff
A 13-year-old boy who was fatally injured when hit by a truck as he tried to cross Farrington Highway near Kahe Point Beach Park Sunday night has been identified by the city medical examiner's office as Keoni N. Brick of Kapolei.
The incident took place at about 7:20 p.m. An eastbound lane of Farrington Highway was closed while police officers investigated.
The boy was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and died there at about 2 a.m. yesterday.
The medical examiner's office also identified Jessie B. Wilpolt as the woman who died when she ran into the path of a city bus on Kamehameha Highway in Pearl City Thursday.
Wilpolt, 54, of Wahiawa, had been standing on the center median when she inexplicably ran across four east-bound lanes of Kamehameha Highway into the path of the bus, Honolulu police said.
Wilpolt and Brick became the 42nd and 43rd traffic fatalities of the year compared with 52 deaths at this time last year.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island man killed in wreck
KA'UPULEHU, Hawai'i — A 60-year-old Captain Cook man died yesterday after a rock-hauling truck he was driving overturned on a construction access road at the Kuki'o Resort in North Kona.
Police said Tony Uemura was pinned under the fully loaded dump truck when the accident happened just before 10 a.m. He was freed by fellow construction workers before fire rescue and police arrived. He was pronounced dead at 1:35 p.m. at the Kona Community Hospital.
Ali'i Drive tries one-way traffic
KAILUA, Kona, Hawai'i — Hawai'i County this week began trying out one-way traffic on a portion of Ali'i Drive to create more freight-loading zones in the busy tourist area.
The temporary southbound one-way traffic pattern is in effect on Ali'i Drive, from Ka'ahumanu Place at Kailua Pier to Hualalai Road, from 9 a.m. to noon weekdays, excluding state holidays. During that period, the mauka lane will be used for freight loading and unloading activities only, while the makai lane will be for normal southbound traffic.
The temporary traffic pattern will remain in force until noon Nov. 12.
HONOLULU
Lawsuit filed in prison hanging
The mother of a man who hanged himself while at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center two years ago has filed a lawsuit against the state.
Byron Almeida, 30, was found hanging in his cell on Aug. 17, 2002, and was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police said no foul play was involved and that Almeida hanged himself because he was despondent over a relationship.
But Eliza Cummings said prison officials should have known that her son was suicidal. The lawsuit, which was filed yesterday in Circuit Court by attorneys Michael Cruise and Gerard Jervis, says prison officials failed to take precautions to prevent the suicide.
State prison officials said yesterday they had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
Almeida was awaiting trial on attempted assault and criminal property damage charges in connection with an attack on several police officers' vehicles in June 2002. Police shot Almeida, but he was not seriously injured.
Almeida had been released from prison four days before the altercation. He had served a 10-year term for robbery.
Hawai'i Pacific commencement
Hawai'i Pacific University will have its 58th annual summer commencement ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Waikiki Shell.
More than 300 students will receive associate, baccalaureate and master's degrees.
Stephen Little, director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, will deliver the commencement address, as well as receive a Fellow of the Pacific award for his outstanding contributions and service to the community and higher education. It is the university's highest accolade.
Alzheimer's group to meet
An Alzheimer's Association caregiver support group will meet at 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at The Plaza at Punchbowl activities room, 918 Lunalilo St.
The free meeting is for caregivers of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other dementia-related diseases.
Sara Funamura will conduct the meeting.
For more information call 792-8800.
Owners urged to microchip pets
The Hawaiian Humane Society wants pet owners to get their cats and dogs microchipped in August, and veterinary clinics across O'ahu are helping by offering to implant microchips for $5 compared to the usual fee of about $25.
Humane Society spokeswoman Jacque Smith said the annual promotion helps reunite lost animals with their owners. Last year the society was able to return about 1,100 lost cats to their homes, many of them through microchips.
For a list of participating clinics, call the Humane Society at 946-2187 or check online at www.hawaiianhumane.org under News and Events. If you have a microchip in your pet and want to update your contact information, call 946-2187, ext. 227.
WINDWARD O'AHU
Toppled pole cuts electricity
A truck toppled a utility pole onto Kamehameha Highway fronting the Hawai'i Pacific University campus in Kane'ohe at about 9 a.m. yesterday, blocking Kane'ohe-bound traffic and disrupting electrical service to about 1,200 Hawaiian Electric customers.
Power was restored to all users by 9:36 a.m. except for the university. By mid-afternoon yesterday, its power had not been restored.
CENTRAL O'AHU
One hospitalized in H-2 accident
One person was critically injured in a traffic accident last night on H-2 Freeway in Mililani.
The accident occurred at about 9:25 p.m. in the south-bound lanes of the freeway near the Meheula Parkway on-ramp. Details were not available late last night, but at least one person was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police closed the south-bound lanes of H-2, as well as onramps to the freeway while they investigated the crash.
Immigration workshops set
A workshop to explain immigration laws and offer immediate personal attention will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Fil Com Center, 94-428 Mokuola St., Waipahu.
