Head-on crash in North Kona kills 2 | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

1/3

Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY JONATHAN MAGDELANO AND JOAO RICARDO JANUZZI

Lifeguards and surfers rescued a bodyboarder who got slammed by a wave at the North Shore’s Banzai Pipeline on Thursday. People on the beach saw the man, in his 30s, wipe out at about 3:10 p.m., according to an email from the city Emergency Services Department.

2/3

Swipe or click to see more

COURTESY JONATHAN MAGDELANO AND JOAO RICARDO JANUZZI

Rescuers quickly got the victim above water and brought him to shore, below. The man was not breathing and had no pulse when they reached the beach, so they performed CPR, above, to revive him. An ambulance crew then took him to a hospital in serious condition. In all, lifeguards performed two rescues and conducted 1,600 preventative actions Thursday on the North Shore, where waves were 16 to 24 feet.

3/3

Swipe or click to see more

2015 March 3 CTY - A possible arson suspect is seen this image from surveillance camera during an arson attempt at a Kona courthouse on Thursday, March 3, 2015. At 6:59 a.m. Thursday, Kona Patrol officers responded to a report of a fire at Big Island Drug Court on Halekiʻi Street in Kealakekua. Arriving officers learned that passersby had extinguished the flames with fire extinguishers from the courthouse before police and firefighters arrived. Two employees were in the courthouse when the fire was set but no injuries were reported. Damage was confined to the front door and a wall. Investigation revealed that the fire was deliberately set by a “local male” wearing board shorts and a “hoodie.” He fled in a pickup truck that appears to be primer gray with a black tailgate, black rims and a black front bumper grill. Courtesy Hawaii Police Dept.

Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.

Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.

Get unlimited access

From as low as $12.95 /mo.

Subscribe Now

Two men were killed in a head-on crash early Thursday morning in North Kona near the 81-mile marker of Queen Kaahumanu Highway on Hawaii island.

Killed in the crash were Thomas Callero, 48, of Waikoloa; and Stewart Kroll, 70, of Kailua-Kona.

Hawaii County police said Kroll was driving south in a 2004 Honda van on Queen Kaahumanu Highway at 1:02 a.m. when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 1999 Chevrolet van driven by Callero, which had been traveling north.

Both men were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where Callero died at 3:05 a.m. and Kroll died at 5:10 a.m.

Tourist, 66, dies at Maui beach

A 66-year-old man from Redmond, Wash., died Thursday after getting in trouble while swimming at a Kahana beach, the Maui Fire Department said in a news release.

Don't miss out on what's happening!

Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!

By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

Emergency crews responded at 2:17 p.m. Thursday to reports of people helping a swimmer in the ocean fronting Kuleana Resort, 3959 Lower Honoapiilani Road, fire officials said.

A good Samaritan saw the man in trouble and swam out, while another went out on a surfboard to help, officials said. But the man fell unconscious before they got to him. They tried to revive the man as he lay on a surfboard 100 yards offshore.

Ocean Safety personnel brought the three to shore on rescue watercraft. Paramedics and firefighters continued cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the man died at the scene.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Arsonist hits drug court on Big Isle

Hawaii County police are looking for a man suspected of starting a fire at the Big Island Drug Court in Kona.

Police have opened an arson investigation into Thursday morning’s blaze.

Passers-by extinguished the flames using fire extinguishers before firefighters arrived, police said.

Police responded to the fire at 6:59 a.m. on Halekii Street in Kealakekua.

Two employees were in the courthouse when the fire was set, but no one was injured.

The front door and a wall were damaged, police said.

Police said the suspect, a man wearing board shorts and a hooded sweatshirt, fled in a pickup truck painted with gray primer, with a black tailgate, black rims and a black front grille.

Police also want to question the occupant or occupants of a sedan who may have seen the suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 935-3311 or Detective Walter Ah Mow at 326-4646, extension 238, or walter.ahmow@hawaiicounty.gov

Anonymous tips may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.