A 28-year-old man convicted of driving a stolen van into 13 cars, causing a massive traffic jam on Kalaniana'ole Highway in December 2005, was sentenced yesterday by Circuit Judge Steve Alm to 26 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 6.8 years.

The Hawai'i Paroling Authority will set the official minimum sentence to be served by Patrick Masaoka at a later date.

A jury acquitted Masaoka in March of trying to murder a police officer while speeding off in the van on Dec. 15, 2005, on 'Ainakoa Avenue.

He was sentenced yesterday for driving a stolen vehicle, 13 counts of first-degree criminal property damage, and possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

FIRE CAUSES MINOR DAMAGE TO HOTEL

An electrical fire last night at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki caused minor damage.

Firefighters responded to the hotel at 2199 Kalia Road after 9 p.m. and put out the second-floor fire in about 15 minutes, said HFD spokesman Capt. Frank Johnson.

The fire was not in a guest room, Johnson said.

No evacuation was needed.

BICYCLIST, 53, IN CRITICAL CONDITION

A bicyclist suffered critical injuries yesterday when he was struck by an outside rearview mirror of a truck while riding on Kaukonahua Road.

The accident near the S-turn was reported at 1:33 p.m.

Emergency Medical Services spokesman Bryan Cheplic said the injured man, 53, was transported to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition after being stabilized at Wahiawa General Hospital.

'CLICK IT OR TICKET' CAMPAIGN BEGINS

Within the first half-hour of launching a "Click It or Ticket" check at Beretania and Isenberg streets yesterday, police had pulled over three drivers who weren't wearing seat belts.

While police say they are always looking out for people violating the seat-belt law, they'll be concentrating their efforts until June 3 as part of a national campaign aimed at getting more people to wear seat belts, particularly those between 18 and 25 and drivers of pickup trucks.

Those caught without seat belts will be given $92 tickets.