Sinkhole curtails park road access

The city shut down the Ewa entrance to the road through Ala Moana Regional Park at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday because of a sinkhole that has undermined about 4 feet of Ala Moana Park Drive.

A small hole was visible on the surface of the pavement, but officials said it’s larger underground.

Vehicles must enter and exit the park only via the Diamond Head entrance, across from Atkinson Drive, until further notice, city officials said. Bicycles and pedestrians may still enter through all pedestrian entrances.

The city had no timetable for reopening the Ewa entrance, across from Kamakee Street.

2 are sickened by ammonia leak

Ammonia gas emitted from overheated equipment at Maui Soda & Ice Works on Lower Main Street in Wailuku prompted evacuation of the building and sickened two people Tuesday.

Maui firefighters said a hazardous-materials team entered the building at about 11:25 a.m. after a relief valve had activated to release excess gas pressures due to overheated equipment. Fire crews gave the all-clear after air quality readings returned to normal at about noon.

Two people were evaluated by paramedics for headaches and nausea and released.

Hilo pedestrian struck by car in May dies

A 69-year-old man died last week from injuries he sustained when a driver struck him in a Hilo intersection in May, Hawaii County police said Tuesday.

Alexander Ortiz of Hilo died Friday at the Queen’s Medical Center of complications from multiple blunt force injuries, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said.

Ortiz was hit by a 61-year-old woman driving south in a Toyota sedan at Kilauea Avenue and Ohea Street at about 9 p.m. May 25, police said.

Ortiz was walking west outside of a crosswalk, police said. The driver was not hurt.

Firefighters took Ortiz to Hilo Medical Center, and he was later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center where he died at 9:49 a.m.

Hawaii County police have opened a negligent-homicide case and are asking anyone with information about the case to call officer Casey Cabral at 961-8889.

The accident was the 13th traffic fatality on Hawaii island this year, the same number as at this time last year.

Man from Texas found in ocean off Maui dies

A 67-year-old Texas visitor died Monday after being found unresponsive on the ocean floor near the area of Black Rock in Kaanapali, Maui County officials said.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death of Samuel Williams.

After he was found at about 10:30 a.m., Williams was brought to shore, and beachgoers and emergency personnel administered CPR, officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

There were no signs of foul play or witnesses to the accident.