Ala Wai wastewater spill is contained
Approximately 2,630 gallons of untreated wastewater spilled into the Ala Wai Canal on Saturday morning after a private contractor accidentally broke a sewer line.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. at 1500 Ala Moana Blvd. near the Ala Moana Bridge.
Department of Environmental Services personnel contained the spill by 2:45 p.m.
Warning signs were posted in the area and Environmental Services workers will conduct water sampling.
Suspect held in fatal crash
A 20-year-old Hilo woman was arrested Friday night for allegedly driving drunk and causing a two-vehicle crash that killed the driver’s 20-year-old passenger in North Kona.
Police identified the victim as Christine Laeda of Hilo.
Police said the driver was heading south in a 2005 Toyota sedan on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near the 91-mile marker shortly before midnight when she tried to overtake a 2006 Chrysler sedan and hit the car’s rear-left corner. The Toyota’s driver then lost control, drove off the right side of the highway into a lava field, and overturned, police said.
Laeda, who was a passenger in the Toyota, was thrown from the vehicle.
Police arrested the Toyota’s driver on suspicion of negligent homicide, drunken driving, having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle and underage drinking. The driver of the second vehicle, a California man, and his passenger were not hurt.
It was the 20th traffic fatality on Hawaii island this year compared with 12 at this time last year.
Woman jailed over burglary
A 21-year-old Hilo woman is in police custody after being charged with a 2011 burglary.
Jewelry valued at more than $2,000 was taken from the Alae Street home of a Hilo man, 49, on Dec. 5.
The suspect, Rose Peace, was arrested Friday and charged with first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. She is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $7,000 bail pending her initial court appearance Monday.
Police ask anyone with information on recent burglaries to contact Detective John Rodrigues Jr. at 961-2384 or jrodrigues@co.hawaii.hi.us.
