Posted on: Friday, November 12, 2004
Former police chief making progress in recovery, wife says
By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer
Former Honolulu Police Chief Michael Nakamura is recovering "day by day," his wife, Carol, said yesterday, from two broken legs and other injuries he suffered when he was hit by a car Sept. 29.
"Right now, they're working on helping him regain his upper body strength," Nakamura said.
She said titanium pins were inserted in both of his legs, but that casts were not required.
A degenerative nerve condition that Michael Nakamura suffers from is not hampering recovery efforts, his wife said.
"He couldn't walk by himself prior to the accident" so he's not fighting to get back on his feet, Carol Nakamura said.
Nakamura, 57, who uses a scooter-type wheelchair because of the nerve disease, had left the Mililani Town Center and was crossing Lanikuhana Avenue at Lanipa'a Street shortly after 4:30 p.m. when a car hit him as it pulled out of the shopping center onto Lanikuhana.
The collision threw Nakamura several feet, but he never lost consciousness, according to emergency workers.
The motorist who struck the former chief, a 20-year-old Mililani man, left the scene, but later turned himself in to security guards at the town center. Police arrested Anthony Grant Pearce II, 20, of Waipi'o Acres, for investigation of failure to render aid, driving without a license and unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle but released him without charges, which is not unusual here in serious traffic accidents.
Police traffic investigators could not say when or if the case will be presented to the Prosecutor's Office perhaps to bring charges against Pearce, who has been unavailable for comment since Nakamura was hit.
Carol Nakamura said the incident has been tough on her and the couple's two sons, one of whom lives at home.
Thanksgiving Day will have special meaning this year for the Nakamura family, Carol said.
"We take things one day at a time, but (Michael) is still with us and we are very, very thankful for that," Carol said. "Things will definitely be a little bit different this year."
After the in-home physical therapy ends, the former chief will likely continue the therapy on an out-patient basis, perhaps at an office at the town center, his wife said.
She said her husband uses a backup scooter to travel to the town center for medical tests.
Reach David Waite at 525-7412 or dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Nakamura's progress has been sufficient enough that he will likely be discharged from his in-home rehabilitation therapy program next week, Carol Nakamura said.
Michael Nakamura
