Man dies of injuries after being hit by van
A 34-year-old Pearl City man died Friday night from injuries sustained when he was struck in a crosswalk by a van Thursday night on Kamehameha Highway near Neal Blaisdell Park in Waimalu.
Police said the man was crossing the highway in a marked crosswalk at about 7:30 p.m. when he was struck by a 1996 Nissan Quest van driven by a 36-year-old Pearl City man.
The victim had head and internal injuries and was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center, according to police. An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said the victim was in extremely critical condition.
The man died at the hospital Friday night.
Officers closed the town-bound lanes of Kamehameha Highway at Kuleana Road for about two hours to investigate the crash.
Company will release test results from fire
The company that designed the battery system for a Kahuku wind farm said environmental health and safety experts are conducting detailed soil, air and surface tests after a fire destroyed the battery system’s structure.
Xtreme Power, which is based in Kyle, Texas, said it will release the test results as they are finished, possibly next week.
An Xtreme Power spokesman said in a statement that the company wants to assure "our Kahuku neighbors that all steps are being taken to regularly monitor conditions around the storage building." The spokesman said that according to a Honolulu Fire Department official, Kahuku residents were never at risk from burning materials in the fire.
HFD Capt. Terry Seelig said firefighters are working with the wind farm to determine the cause and still had not entered the building Friday because of safety reasons. The fire started at about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday and destroyed the 9,000-square-foot building for the 15-megawatt battery system. First Wind, owner of the wind farm, said the extent of the damage was unknown.
Victim in swimming accident is identified
The Medical Examiner’s Office has identified the 17-year-old Kapolei boy who died July 24 while swimming near Ko Olina as Ramil Mangubat.
The cause of death was attributed to brain damage caused by near drowning, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Couple charged in road rage
Hawaii County authorities charged a Kona couple Friday in a road-rage incident in Kailua-Kona that slightly injured a driver and damaged her vehicle Wednesday.
Police said David F. Torres Jr., 31, was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and criminal property damage. His bail was set at $11,000. His wife, Shaundalinn Torres, 30, was charged with unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree assault. Bail for her was set at $12,000.
The couple is scheduled to make their first court appearance Monday.
