Eight people were displaced Wednesday night after a fire damaged a ground-floor patio area of a four-unit apartment building in Waianae, causing $43,500 worth of damage.
The fire was reported at 11:34 p.m. at the Garden Grove Apartment complex on Farrington Highway, and 32 firefighters arrived at 11:41 p.m. to find flames coming from the patio area of one of the units, according to Capt. David Jenkins. Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 11:49 p.m.
No one was in the unit when the fire was reported.
Eight people from two of the building’s units were displaced and planned to stay with friends and family, Jenkins said.
Occupants of the apartment building were alerted to the fire by the sound of breaking glass and the smell of smoke, he said. All occupants were able to evacuate without injury.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Alcohol may be factor in Waimanalo death
The 45-year-old Waimanalo woman who was killed Saturday while jaywalking near Waimanalo Beach Park might have been intoxicated, police said Wednesday.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the pedestrian as Cheryl Pohina. Police said alcohol contributed to her death.
However, the Medical Examiner’s Office said that not all medical tests have been completed. The cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma.
The accident occurred at 9:45 p.m. Saturday at Kalanianaole Highway and Huli Street.
A 23-year-old Aiea man was driving eastbound on Kalanianaole Highway when his vehicle hit Pohina. She was taken in critical condition to a hospital and later died. Police said the driver was not speeding.
It was raining intermittently at the time of the collision, police said.
Meth pinpointed in Keehi fight fatality
Drugs are tied to the death of a 52-year-old man who died following a fight at Keehi Boat Harbor last month, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday.
Michael Sauer was involved in an altercation at the harbor at about 1 p.m. March 17 and was taken to a hospital where he died shortly afterward, police said.
A 39-year-old man who allegedly fought with Sauer was arrested that afternoon on suspicion of manslaughter, but police later released him pending investigation.
The Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday that Sauer died of acute methamphetamine intoxication. Another significant factor was cardiovascular disease related to high blood pressure. The office ruled Sauer’s death an accident.
Police look into alleged assault by youth
Police are investigating an incident in which a 15-year-old boy allegedly assaulted an education worker in the Punchbowl area earlier this month.
The youth was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of second-degree assault.
Police said the incident occurred at 12:55 p.m. April 8 and involved a 36-year-old male education worker.
No other details were released because the suspect is a minor, police said. The youth was released pending further investigation.
Witnesses sought in Waimanalo case
Police are seeking witnesses in the death of a 42-year-old man whose body was found on Kalanianaole Highway in Waimanalo three years ago.
The body of Marc Bucho was found at about 8 p.m. April 19, 2013, on Kalanianaole Highway north of Hilu Street. Bucho had sustained head injuries.
A CrimeStoppers bulletin said Tuesday that a nearby resident heard a loud thud, looked out her window and saw Bucho in the roadway. He died at the scene.
The case was being investigated as a hit-and-run, and CrimeStoppers said it is seeking new leads in the case at the family’s request.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said Tuesday that Bucho died of multiple blunt force injuries and that the manner of his death was undetermined.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellphone.
