Tourist dies while snorkeling off Kauai
A 79-year-old visitor died in Poipu on Friday while snorkeling in waters off Lawai Beach Resort on Kauai.
About 11:30 a.m., an Arkansas man was snorkeling with a tour group along with a family member, the Fire Department said in a news release. At some point, the family member noticed he wasn’t with the group.
County spokeswoman Sarah Blane said they searched and found him farther west of the group in a rocky area near the shoreline. He was found floating in the water, unresponsive.
According to the news release, beachgoers pulled him to shore and administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived.
The victim was taken to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The drowning is Kauai’s first this year compared to 10 drownings at the same time last year.
Driver of truck dies after crash
A 25-year-old Lihue man died Friday after his pickup truck crashed into a utility pole in front of the Kauai Museum, police said.
The victim was identified as Rico Yap, who was driving the Toyota pickup.
About 3:50 a.m., the truck was traveling westbound on Rice Street when it drifted off the roadway, sideswiped a utility pole and struck another pole, according to a Police Department news release.
He was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police shut down Rice Street between Haleko Road and Umi Street for three hours to investigate. Lanes reopened at 7 a.m. 1It was the second traffic fatality for the year.
Alleged assault prompts arrest
Police arrested and charged a 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man for allegedly assaulting a 54-year-old captain of a commercial dive boat during a tour.
Officers learned that at 12:04 p.m. Tuesday, a man had boarded a boat in waters off Kohanaiki Beach Park while a dive tour was in progress, police said.
The man reportedly argued with the captain, punched him and jumped off the boat.
After an investigation, police learned the identity of the suspect, Cheyenne James Gaspar, who turned himself in at the Kona police station Thursday. He was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and released after posting $1,000 bail.
