Police and Fire

Overturned semi injures driver

An 18-wheeled trailer carrying a load of plastic pipes overturned yesterday morning on the Waimalu westbound offramp from H-1 freeway.

The driver was taken in serious condition to a local hospital following the 7:35 a.m. accident.

Firefighters had to clean up diesel that leaked from a fuel tank onto the offramp.

The ramp was closed for several hours until the trailer was righted and removed.

Driver rescued after crash

The Honolulu Fire Department pulled a man out of a sport utility vehicle after a multicar crash on Kamehameha IV Road near North School Street on Sunday night, a Fire Department spokesman said.

The crash happened at about 9:47 p.m. Three children, two under 10 years of age and an infant, who were passengers in the SUV were already out of the vehicle when the Fire Department arrived. The man, in his 30s, was extricated at 9:56 p.m. and transferred to an ambulance. His condition was not immediately available.

Kona man held in burglaries

Big Island police are holding a 20-year-old Kona man for the alleged burglary of two restaurants in Kailua-Kona last week.

Two teenage boys and three teenage girls also were arrested on suspicion of criminal trespassing and released pending investigation.

The first burglary occurred between Friday and Saturday. During its investigation, Kona police learned that two men and three juveniles were reportedly trespassing in a vacant apartment in a building next door.

Officers arrested them for criminal trespass and located a laptop reported stolen from the restaurant.

Police said that one of the men and a 17-year-old boy were also responsible for a burglary at a nearby restaurant during the same time period. The man also was suspected of unlawfully entering a vehicle parked at the county public parking lot in Kailua-Kona.

Brush fire busies Maui firefighters

The Maui Fire Department battled a brush fire in Maalaea, mauka of Honoapiilani Highway, a county spokeswoman said.

The fire was reported at 6:32 a.m. Sunday and was reported 90 percent contained Sunday night. It was not threatening structures, said county spokeswoman Mahina Martin. Two helicopters and fire crews from Kahului and Wailuku responded to the fire.

2 motorists in fatal cases are sentenced

HILO » Sentences have been imposed on two Big Island drivers involved in separate fatal accidents in 2008.

Third Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Strance sentenced 22-year-old Joshua Michael Argel on Friday to 18 months in prison for the death of Stanette Medeiros.

Argel had pleaded no contest to negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death or serious injury, and driving under the influence.

Strance also sentenced 25-year-old Jon Christian Liko Asing to 10 years in prison for the death of Thomas Keliinohomoku.

Asing pleaded guilty to negligent homicide, negligent injury, reckless endangering and driving under the influence.