Traffic came to a standstill for townbound motorists on Kalanianaole Highway near Kalani High School after the suspect in a motor vehicle theft apparently crashed into at least two other moving vehicles while attempting to flee pursuing police late Saturday morning.
No one was injured. A male juvenile was arrested at the scene, police said.
Initial reports indicated the suspect got caught up in traffic caused by a road construction project along Kalanianaole, and then began taking desperate measures, police said.
The center Ewa-bound lanes of Kalanianaole were closed at about 10:46 a.m. and reopened about two hours later.
East Honolulu Twitter users tweeted that not only was townbound traffic backed up all the way to Keahole Street, but that Waimanalo-bound traffic along Kalanianaole was also backed up past Sandy Beach.
East Honolulu City Councilman Trevor Ozawa was among those caught up in the traffic jam for more than an hour. As a result, an honorary certificate presentation he was scheduled to make at the Hawaii Scottish Festival at Ala Moana Park’s McCoy Pavilion had to be pushed back, he said.
Motorcyclist collides with SUV on Kauai
A 25-year-old Koloa man was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Saturday following a traffic collision in Lihue.
According to police, the man was traveling south on Kuhio Highway at about 2:36 p.m. when he drove his motorcycle between two lanes in stopped traffic and crashed into a northbound sport utility vehicle that was turning left.
The motorcyclist sustained multiple injuries. His condition was not disclosed.
The driver of the SUV and her passenger were not injured.
Following the crash, northbound traffic was diverted to Hardy Street and southbound traffic was redirected to the northbound lane. The highway reopened at 5:45 p.m.
Catholic cardinal is convicted of DUI
HILO >> A man who was once one of the highest-ranking American officials of the Roman Catholic Church had a blood alcohol level over twice the legal limit when he was arrested in August.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports 79-year-old Cardinal William Joseph Levada of Menlo Park, Calif., pleaded no contest Jan. 25.
Police say Levada was driving on the Big Island when a Kona patrol officer saw him swerve and stopped him.
Court records say the cardinal’s blood alcohol level was 0.168.
His driver’s license was revoked for a year.
He was ordered to pay a fine and fees totaling $462.
Levada must also pursue any recommended substance abuse treatment.
The case is scheduled for a July 8 proof of compliance hearing.
Levada said in a statement after his arrest that he regretted his error in judgment.
