Friday morning crashes close Kawaihae Road
Two separate crashes in nearly the same location Friday morning left a man seriously injured and Kawaihae Road closed for about 30 minutes.
The first crash, reported before 8 a.m., occurred near mile marker 63 when a vehicle made a left turn onto Kawaihae Road and was T-boned by another vehicle headed down the roadway, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. One of the victims, a woman, then reportedly contacted her husband who headed up Kawaihae Road to the accident scene.
When he reached the scene, which medics and police were already attending, he reportedly made a left turn across the centerline and because of glare on his windshield apparently did not see a makai-bound motorcyclist, according to police. The motorcyclist then T-boned the man’s vehicle and was ejected from his motorcycle, landing in the mauka-bound lane.
He was transported by medics with serious injuries, according to police. The extent of injuries of the others involved was not available Friday afternoon.
Kawaihae Road was closed for about a half-hour while crews attended to the scene. The road was reopened by 8:40 a.m.
Man charged in Hilo robbery
Hawaii Island police have charged the man arrested after a bank robbery that took place Wednesday afternoon in Hilo.
At 12:05 p.m. Friday, Lelome Kahaualoa Rogers, 61, who has no permanent address, was charged with second-degree robbery and second-degree theft, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. His bail was set at $70,000.
Rogers remains at the Hilo police cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday.
Police seek man missing since Thanksgiving
Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for information about a 37-year-old Kailua-Kona man who was reported missing.
Robert Keawe Lopaka Ryder was last contacted on Nov. 28, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. He is 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing about 150 pounds with green eyes and short brown hair.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or wahmow@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Police still searching for missing Kohala man
Hawaii Island police are renewing their request for information about a 38-year-old Kohala man who was reported missing.
Jonathan Riveira was last seen Jan. 12 at a Hawi home, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. He reportedly told a friend around 4 p.m. that day he was on his way to pick opihi at Pahoa Bay in North Kohala in an area known as “Black Gate.”
Riveira is 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing about 145 pounds with brown eyes and short black hair, according to police. He has a medical condition that requires medication.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311 or contact Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, ext. 238, or wahmow@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Man charged in Pahoa robbery
A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with several offenses following a reported robbery Wednesday night in Pahoa.
Puna patrol officers responded to a 9:09 p.m. report that a 59-year-old Pahoa man had been walking in Pahoa around 8:30 p.m. when an unknown man kicked him, knocked him to the ground and stole his backpack, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. The suspect fled on foot.
A short time later, police found the suspect in the vicinity. Fred I. Silva, who has no permanent address, was arrested and charged with four counts of contempt of court and taken to the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continued the investigation into the robbery, according to police.
At 10:50 a.m. Thursday, detectives charged him with second-degree robbery, third-degree assault and fourth-degree theft. His bail was set at $27,000, according to police.
Police investigating Hilo armed robbery
Hawaii Island police are investigating a reported robbery Friday morning in Hilo.
Between 4 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., a 31-year-old man was standing on the sidewalk on the mauka side of Kanoelehua Avenue near its intersection with Leilani Street when he was approached by a man on a bicycle who brandished a knife and demanded money, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. The suspect then rode north with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The victim was not injured in the robbery, according to police.
The suspect is described as Caucasian with a thin build, in his mid 30s to early 40s with long hair, according to police. He was wearing a white tank top, bright red or orange shorts and was carrying a light-colored messenger bag.
Anyone who may have witnessed the robbery or who knows the identity of the suspect should call department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 and may eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
Lawyer: State to blame for school shooting
HONOLULU — The lawyer representing a 17-year-old boy shot in the wrist by police at a Hawaii high school blames the shooting on the state Education Department failing to give the teen the psychiatric support he needed.
Education law attorney Eric Seitz said he’s working to ensure the statewide school district provides the teen a 24-hour treatment program on the U.S. mainland. The department declined to comment.
Seitz said Friday the teen’s diagnosis includes schizophrenia and psychosis. The Associated Press isn’t identifying him because of his age.
Police said officers fired at him when he slashed one officer with a knife and punched two others at a Honolulu school.
Seitz acknowledged the officers were confronted with a dangerous situation after the teen showed up at Roosevelt High School to register for classes.
Abercrombie raises $528K in 6 months
HONOLULU — Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s campaign raised $528,000 during the last half of 2013 toward his bid for a second term.
Abercrombie campaign officials said Friday in a report filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission that the campaign has $2.2 million cash on hand.
Campaign officials said Abercrombie has raised $3.44 million to date for the re-election campaign.
State Sen. David Ige, chairman of the Senate finance committee, is challenging Abercrombie in a Democratic primary.
By local and wire sources