honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, July 19, 2006

HAWAI'I BRIEFS
Man pulled from ocean identified

Advertiser Staff

The city Department of the Medical Examiner has identified Donald Anderson, 49, of Royal Oak, Mich., as the man who died at Castle Medical Center on Monday after being pulled from ocean waters near the Makai Pier in Waimanalo.

Anderson was participating in a commercial snorkeling tour when he got into trouble. He was brought to shore about 11 a.m. and was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation by lifeguards from nearby Makapu'u Beach Park.

City paramedics took Anderson to Castle Medical Center in extremely critical condition. He was pronounced dead within an hour of arriving at the hospital.




HONOLULU

PEDESTRIAN HURT ON KAPI'OLANI

A 23-year-old man was critically injured last night when he was hit by a car as he was running across Kapi'olani Boulevard at Hauoli Street.

The accident was reported at 8:15 p.m. The man was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Services.




MAUI

DRIVERS CAN USE PA'IA BYPASS ROAD

A new one-way bypass road will open at 3 p.m. today, allowing motorists to avoid afternoon traffic congestion in Pa'ia town on Maui's north shore.

The single-lane road extends from Baldwin Beach Park to just past the Pa'ia Post Office, and will be open from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Buses and commercial trucks will not be allowed to use the bypass.

The $675,000 project was a joint effort between the county, the state Department of Transportation and Alexander & Baldwin to provide an interim solution to traffic problems in the former plantation town while long-term solutions are pursued. The state constructed a half-mile shoulder lane along Hana Highway, A&B built a third of a mile of roadway on former sugar land from the highway to the post office and Maui County connected the road with Baldwin Avenue.

At the Baldwin Avenue intersection, motorists will be able to turn right toward Upper Pa'ia or left toward town.




BIG ISLAND

71-YEAR-OLD HURT IN AIRCRAFT CRASH

A 71-year-old Big Island man suffered minor injuries after his experimental aircraft crashed yesterday afternoon near the Hilo airport.

Police said the Puna man had taken off at about 3 p.m. in a Gyroplane, a light aircraft similar to a helicopter. The man had been in the air for about 10 minutes when the aircraft experienced mechanical problems, police said.

The aircraft crashed about a quarter-mile north of an airport runway and 15 feet from Kalaniana'ole Avenue. Police said no one saw the aircraft go down, but several people heard the man moaning in some bushes and went to his aid.

The man was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.



STILL NO CHARGES IN FATAL CRASH

A 41-year-old Puna man remained in custody yesterday while Big Island police continued to investigate whether he forced his ex-girlfriend's vehicle off Mamalahoa Highway on Sunday, killing two Hilo women.

Vernon E. Costa was arrested Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder, but he had not been charged.

Meanwhile, autopsies performed Monday confirmed the two victims died from injuries from the crash.

Pua Lei Santa Isabel, 26, likely died instantly from head, neck, chest and abdominal injuries, police said yesterday. The second victim, Casey Ann Swain, 35, whose body also was found outside the wrecked car, suffered severe head trauma and a fracture to her right leg, police said.