A Kaua'i pedestrian injured Thursday while crossing Kaumuali'i Highway in Kalaheo died Saturday morning at The Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu.

The Honolulu medical examiner's office yesterday identified the man as Juan Lorenzo, 81, of Kalaheo.

Kaua'i police said Lorenzo was in a marked crosswalk fronting Holy Cross Church at 7:05 a.m. when he was struck by a westbound vehicle driven by a 53-year-old male visitor from New Mexico.

The death is Kaua'i's first traffic fatality of 2008.

MAN SAYS GROUP SEIZED, BEAT HIM

Police were investigating a 22-year-old Waimanalo man's report that he was kidnapped and beaten Sunday night.

The man told police two men forced him into a white Ford pickup truck at 10:45 p.m. as he was walking home. They took him to an area by the Makai Pier at Makapu'u, where he was assaulted by a third man with a hammer.

The complainant said he ran away from the three men, flagged a car down and made it home. He was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was treated for injuries and released. Police had made no arrests as of yesterday evening.

LOST HIKERS HELPED FROM KA'ENA POINT

Three children and an adult were guided out yesterday at Ka'ena Point by a Honolulu Fire Department helicopter, which found the lost hikers at 4 p.m.

HFD spokesman Capt. Earle Kealoha said the hikers were not injured. The children ranged in age from 6 to 10, Kealoha said.

The helicopter found them about four miles from the guard shack at the Ka'ena Point satellite station. The hikers were brought out safely at 5:25 p.m.

LANE CLOSURE: H-1 KILAUEA OFF-RAMP

Bridge inspections on the H-1 Freeway westbound near Kahala will close a lane on the Kilauea Avenue off-ramp this week.

The right lane on the off-ramp will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., today through Friday.

Drivers are advised to use caution in the area and allow for extra travel time.

KAUA'I POLICE START TRAFFIC CAMPAIGN

The Kaua'i Police Department's Patrol Services Bureau has launched a public awareness campaign to inform the public about the county's motor vehicle and traffic regulations.

The traffic law that the Patrol Services Bureau is focusing on this month is entitled Mudguards Required. It comes under Section 16-17.31 of the Kaua'i County Code: "No person shall operate on any highway any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer unless equipped with fenders, cover, flares, mud flaps or splash aprons or unless the body of the vehicle covers the width of the tire tread for adequate protection to effectively protect against spray or splash of water, mud, rocks or other debris that could be propelled by the tires."