A tour guide died Thursday morning while on a guided hiking tour near a lava flow in the Kalapana lava viewing area, the Hawaii County Fire Department said.
Four people were overcome by a noxious steam cloud on an open lava field, the fire department said. Three managed to escape to a safe area, but a fire helicopter crew found the guide unconscious.
“While on their tour, it rained, which created a noxious steam cloud that quickly surrounded them; affecting their vision and breathing,” the Fire Department said.
The fire department got the call at 8:15 a.m., and the first unit was on scene at 9:01 a.m. in the area of Royal Gardens subdivision and Chain of Craters Road.
Chopper 1 airlifted the man to a waiting ambulance crew, which determined he had died.
Choppers 1 and 2 airlifted the three others, who received minor injuries, to safety.
Bail tripled for suspect in Waianae standoff
A state judge Thursday tripled the bail to $3 million of a convicted felon accused of shooting at police officers during a car chase.
Acting Circuit Judge Clarence Pacarro granted the prosecutor’s request to increase the bail for 34-year-old Frank Hampp after an Oahu grand jury returned an indictment charging Hampp with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The charges stem from an incident that started Saturday with a police pursuit on the H-1 freeway and ended when Hampp surrendered to police Sunday following a more than 17-hour standoff at an apartment in Waianae.
Hampp had been wanted on a no-bail warrant for failing to show up in state court Jan. 9 for two felony cases. One case is for unauthorized entry into a dwelling; the other is for carrying a firearm without a permit and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He has prior convictions for drug promotion, drug paraphernalia possession, escape, burglary and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
Scuba divers rescued off Maili Beach
Lifeguards rescued four scuba divers Thursday morning more than 1,000 yards offshore of Maili Beach, according to Honolulu Ocean Safety and Lifeguard Services.
The rescue took place at about 11 a.m., when lifeguards scanning the ocean noticed an orange buoy being waved back and fourth. The four were diving with a dinghy that had broken loose from its anchor.
One lifeguard paddled out and brought two women, ages 19 and 20, to shore safely. Lifeguards on a rescue watercraft brought two men, ages 46 and 52, to shore safely. The lifeguards then towed the small boat to shore.
Man charged in crash that killed pedestrian
A 29-year-old man has been charged in connection with a 2016 crash that killed a 52-year-old pedestrian in the Ala Moana area.
Dusty Ah Mow-Tereise turned himself in at the main police headquarters Wednesday after he was charged with second-degree negligent homicide in Exian Lin’s death.
Police released Ah Mow-Tereise after he posted $15,000 bail; he is expected to appear in court in the coming weeks.
A bench warrant was issued for his arrest after he was charged Jan. 24 with negligent homicide.