The alleged assault occurred before Costa, 41, was arrested Monday afternoon in the Eden Roc subdivision in upper Puna. A 38-year-old man from Kailua, Kona, was arrested that evening as a suspect in the beating, but was released yesterday while police look into the incident. Lt. Randall Medeiros would not say whether the assault suspect was a relative of one of the victims, or which victim the man knew.

As a result of the alleged beating, Costa underwent emergency surgery at Hilo Medical Center for injuries to his face and body, Medeiros said. He is still under medical care today, but Medeiros would not say whether the suspect was at the hospital or in jail, citing "security reasons."

Killed in the wreck on Mamalahoa Highway were Casey Ann Swain, 35, and Pua Santa Isabel, 26, both of Hilo. A 19-year-old woman who was Costa's former girlfriend survived the crash.

Police this afternoon charged Costa with first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, two drug charges and six traffic charges, including driving while his license was revoked.

He was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail, with his first court appearance set for tomorrow.

Police said the crash happened around 12:15 a.m. Sunday after Costa allegedly drove a silver 1998 Dodge Dakota pickup truck into a 1987 Honda sedan carrying the three women and forced their car off the road. Police found the dead women outside the crushed sedan, and a passerby took the third woman to North Hawai'i Community Hospital, where she was treated for head injuries and released.

Costa is believed to have abandoned the truck at the crash scene. While searching for him Monday in Eden Roc, an individual flagged down police to report seeing Costa run into nearby brush. A short while later, the suspect was found crouching near a fallen tree, his face bloody from the beating, police said.

Meanwhile, police are trying to locate the person who gave the 19-year-old survivor a ride to the hospital. Anyone with information should call Detective Mark Haggerty at (808) 326-4646, ext. 277; the nonemergency telephone number at (808) 935-3311; or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo or (808) 329-8181 in Kona.