Three beaches on the Big Island's Kawaihae coast remained closed yesterday because of shark sightings, a Civil Defense official said.

Hapuna State Park and Waialea Bay have been closed since Sunday and Spencer Beach Park has been closed since Monday when 15 large sharks, believed to be tiger sharks, were sighted. The sharks ranged in length from 6 feet to 16 feet.

The fire department and lifeguards typically search the area both by air and sea following a shark sighting to ensure it is safe to go back in the water, but the Big Island Fire Department yesterday said no flyover was needed because the shark sightings were easily visible.

Over the past three days, about five miles of beaches have been closed on the Big Island because of shark sightings.

DRIVER WHO HIT OFFICER HAS RECORD

A pickup truck that hit a police motorcycle officer Monday night on Kilani Avenue and North Cane Street in Wahiawa was being driven by a man without a valid license, police said.

Sidney Kealii Rodrigues, 38, of Wahiawa, was charged with driving while his license is suspended or revoked because of a February 2007 drunken-driving conviction. Bail was set at $1,000.

Rodrigues, who has seven prior criminal convictions dating to January 1990, was also wanted on three outstanding warrants totaling $1,700. The convictions include drunken driving and driving without a license in 1993, and driving with a suspended license in 1990.

Speed, but not alcohol, may have been a factor in last night's collision, police said.

The 38-year-old motorcycle officer was transported in serious condition to The Queen's Medical Center, police said.

The collision occurred at 9:20 p.m.

Investigators said the officer was traveling east on Kilani Avenue on a green light when he was struck by a Ford pickup turning left from Kilani Avenue onto North Cane Street.

KA'U MAN STRUCK BY SUV CRITICAL

Big Island police yesterday continued their investigation into injuries suffered Sunday by a 55-year-old Ka'u man who was struck by a sport utility vehicle driven by his girlfriend, with whom he had been arguing.

Police said the man was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center with injuries to the right side of his body.

The woman, 54, was arrested Sunday for investigation of negligent injury but released pending further investigation Monday.

SUSPECT ARRESTED, FOUND WITH DRUGS

A 51-year-old Kailua, Kona, man arrested following the stabbing death of his father was held by Big Island police last night for violating conditions of his release on recent drug charges.

Police said Anthony Scott was released on bail Friday after being charged with promoting a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. When arrested Sunday as a suspect in the stabbing death of his 85-year-old father, John M. Scott, police allegedly found Anthony Scott in possession of drugs and paraphernalia.

He was charged at 7:45 a.m. yesterday with violating terms of his release.