Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff

Fire guts vacant Waimalu house

A suspicious fire destroyed a vacant house in Waimalu yesterday.

Honolulu Fire Department Capt. Kenison Tejada said the house at 98342 Ponohana Loop had been scheduled for demolition to make way for highway construction. The fire was reported at 5:55 p.m., Tejada said, and about 25 firefighters battled the blaze. The fire was under control by 6:15 p.m., but the house was destroyed.

Tejada said the fire appeared suspicious and police were investigating.

"Our main concern was that someone might be in the house," Tejada said. "There have been reports of homeless people staying there. But we searched and there was no one in the house."

There was no damage estimate last night.

Maui woman killed in traffic accident

A Maui woman was killed yesterday when she was hit by a pickup truck off Honopi'ilani Highway.

Maria Estrellita B. Ortega, 60, of Lahaina had just crossed the highway and was standing on the side of the road when the truck, driven by 19-year-old man from Kihei, left the road, drove onto the shoulder and struck her.

Police are still investigating to determine whether alcohol, speed or drugs were factors.

The driver of the truck was wearing a seat belt, according to police.

It was Maui's first traffic fatality of the year.