Hawai'i briefs
Advertiser Staff
BIG ISLAND
Motorcyclist killed in crash
PAHOA, Hawai'i — A 36-year-old Puna motorcyclist died yesterday after a car reportedly pulled into his path on Kea'au-Pahoa Highway outside of Pahoa.
Joseph M. Bertilacci of Hawaiian Paradise Park was pronounced dead at 9:24 a.m. at Hilo Medical Center. Police said the collision happened at around 7:15 a.m. when Bertilacci's eastbound 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle hit a 1994 Mercury four-door station wagon that was making a left turn onto the highway from 'Auli'i Street.
Bertilacci was not wearing a helmet, police said.
The driver of the Mercury was Sha Johnson, 41, of Orchidland.
The death was the 25th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared with 15 at this time last year. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call officer Wendall Carter or acting Sgt. Robert Hatton of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at (808) 961-2332.
CENTRAL
Burn planned at McCarthy Flats
Fire specialists will conduct the second phase of a prescribed burn in the Schofield Barracks range complex next week, according to the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division (Light).
The West Range impact area burn will encompass 1,300 acres.
The area, commonly called McCarthy Flats, is north of Kolekole and Trimble roads.
Depending on the weather, burning could begin Monday and would last through Wednesday. Hours of actual burning will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fires are part of the U.S. Army Hawai'i's plan to manage the range areas.
HONOLULU
Woman injured in Waikiki fire
Firefighters responded to a blaze in a Waikiki apartment at about 3 p.m. yesterday where one woman had to be treated for minor injuries.
Witnesses said the fire started in the bedroom of apartment 1605 at 2140 Kuhio Ave., according to Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The woman, in her early 60s, was inside the apartment and managed to escape into the hallway, where a neighbor and a firefighter helped her to safety, Tejada said.
Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze, Tejada said.
EAST HONOLULU
Reading tutors for adults sought
Learn to teach an adult to read at a free orientation for the Hawai'i Literacy program from 6 to 8 p.m. July 27 at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at Kahala Mall. A training session will follow.
To sign up, call the program at 537-6706.
NORTH SHORE
Storyteller will read in Waialua
The Waialua library will end its summer reading program with a special presentation by storyteller Brenda Freitas-Obregon at the Waialua Bandstand at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The new bandstand is across from the library.
The Children of the North Shore Dance Project will also perform a rendition of Dr. Suess' "Green Eggs and Ham." For more information, call 637-8286.
