Official Police Report on Today’s Tragic Highway 11 Crash that Claimed the Lives of Five People

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

Five people died Wednesday (January 23) in a two-vehicle crash on Highway 11 .6 of a mile south of the 54-mile marker just south of Pāhala.

Picture from KITV's Facebook page

Picture from KITV’s Facebook page

Responding to a 10:17 report, Kaʻū District officers determined that a 2012 Nissan four-door sedan was traveling south at the Punaluʻu bridge when it swerved to the left, crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a 2002 Ford pickup truck. The truck overturned and caught fire.

A man and woman in the truck died at the scene, as did a male driver and a male passenger in the sedan. A male child in the sedan was taken to Kaʻū Hospital and then flown to Kona Community Hospital, where he later died.

No more details are immediately available at this time.

Police initiated four negligent homicide cases and a coroner’s inquest case.

The deaths were the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh fatalities so far this year compared with none at this time last year.

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Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Hawaii, Legal, Transportation | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

ANOTHER MISSING PERSON REPORTED! Police Searching for Missing Puna Man… Do We Have a Serial Killer on the Big Island

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

Editors Note: I hate to say this… but I’m wondering if we may have one or more serial killers on this island.

Media Release:

Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a 38-year-old Puna man who was reported missing.

Shayne Yoshi Kalani Kobayashi

Shayne Yoshi Kalani Kobayashi

Shayne Yoshi Kalani Kobayashi of Pāhoa is described as part Hawaiian, about 5-foot-8, about 212 pounds with brown eyes, medium-length black hair and a mustache and goatee.

Kobayashi was last seen at his Pāhoa home on December 11.

Police ask that anyone with information on his whereabouts call Detective Todd Pataray at 961-2382 or email him at tpataray@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

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Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Community, Hawaii, Legal, Missing, Pahoa, Puna, Rumors, Security | Tagged: , , , | 4 Comments »

Second Body Found Off Stainback Highway

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of another body off Stainback Highway in Hilo.

Stainback
On Tuesday (January 22) at about 5:18 a.m., police received an anonymous tip of a body off the “Tree Planting Road.”

Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section and a scent-discriminating canine conducted area checks and discovered a badly decomposed body.

Due to the advanced state of decomposition, detectives were unable to readily identify the remains. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning to determine the exact cause of death.

Police were conducting a search in the area for the body of Dante Peter Gilman, who was initially reported as missing. A murder investigation was initiated in that case and Claude Keone Krause and his cousin, Kawena Krause, were both charged.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case to call Detective Derek Morimoto at 961-2380 or email at dmorimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Filed under: Puna, Big Island, Hawaii, Rumors, Legal, Security, Announcements, Unexplained Phenomenon, Missing | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Three Men in Custody Following Violent Shoplifting Incident in Hilo

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

Three men are in police custody in connection with a shoplifting incident on Tuesday (January 22) that turned violent.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday, South Hilo patrol officers responded to a store at 325 Makaʻala Street in Hilo to a report of a robbery.

Store personnel reported that three men had concealed store items on their person and left the building without paying. When confronted by an employee outside the store, one of the men reportedly punched the male employee in the jaw, knocking him to the ground. The three suspects then ran from the area.

Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas

Police located the suspects nearby. They were identified as 21-year-old Michael Thomas, 18-year-old and 19-year-old Ku Manuia. They were arrested and taken to the Hilo police cellblock pending further investigation.

Daniel Kapumau

Daniel Kapumau

On Wednesday (January 23), police charged Thomas and Kapumau with fourth-degree theft. Their bail was set at $250 each. Manuia was charged with second-degree robbery and fourth-degree theft. His bail was set at $5,250.

Ku Manuia

Ku Manuia

They remain at the cellblock pending their initial court appearance scheduled for Thursday (January 24).

Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Hilo, Legal | Tagged: , , , , | 2 Comments »

Police Discover Body Off Stainback Highway

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body off Stainback Highway in Hilo.
Stainback

On Friday ( January 18) at about 7:24 p.m., police discovered a badly decomposed body off the “ATV Trail Park.”

On Tuesday (January 22) an autopsy was performed on the unidentified remains. Due to the advanced state of decomposition, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section are awaiting additional examination and toxicology reports before releasing the exact cause of death.

Police were conducting a search in the area for the body of Dante Peter Gilman, who was initially reported as missing. A murder investigation was initiated in that case and Claude Keone Krause and his cousin, Kawena Krause, were both charged.

Police ask that anyone with information on this case call Detective Todd Pataray at 961-2382 or email him at tpataray@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

 

Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Hawaii, Legal, Missing, Puna | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

Hawaii State Department of Health Confirms State’s First Flu-Related Child Death

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

The Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the state’s first flu-related pediatric death during the current flu season. The individual was a four-year-old female who passed away in a Honolulu hospital on Jan. 20, 2013.

Department of Health

“This is an uncommon and tragic death,” said Dr. Sarah Park, state epidemiologist. “Not every child will become this seriously ill from the flu; however, it is a wake-up call for everyone to protect themselves and their loved ones against the flu. The flu vaccine is still the best method of protection and recommended for everyone six months of age and older.”

Flu activity in Hawaii is still considered low when compared with mainland states. Information on where to get a flu vaccination is available at http://www.flu.hawaii.gov/VaccineLocator.html or by calling 2-1-1. It is recommended that people call ahead to make appointments for vaccination as late season demand has affected vaccine availability. Other methods for reducing the spread of flu include: washing hands often with soap and water, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying at home when you are sick. For more information on the flu go to: http://flu.hawaii.gov/

The seasonal flu is one of many illnesses that are prevented through vaccination. Vaccinating each child born in the United States in a given year following the current childhood immunization schedule could prevent approximately 42,000 deaths and 20 million cases of disease.

 

Filed under: Announcements, Education, Environment, Hawaii, Health, Kids, Rumors, State Affairs | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Five People Die in Highway 11 Crash South of Pahala

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

NEW DEVELOPMENT: Police say a 7-year-old boy has also died in this crash near Pahala. In all, five people were killed. (via Hawaii News Now Facebook page)

Picture from KITV's Facebook page

Picture from KITV’s Facebook page

Hawaii News Now reported:

Police and emergency crews on the Big Island are responding to a crash just south of Pahala Wednesday morning.  Reports from the crash scene are that four people were killed in the crash…

HPDBadge

The Hawaii Police Department released this Nixle alert awhile ago:

Highway 11 at the 54-mile marker (just south of Pahala) is closed to traffic in both directions due to a traffic accident. The road is expected to be closed for two hours or more.

1:45 Update:

Highway 11 remains closed in both directions at the 54-mile marker (just south of Pahala) and is expected to remain closed until at least 3 p.m. due to a traffic accident.

Update the StarAdvertiser has now reported the following:

Four people were killed and a child was critically injured today in a head-on vehicle collision near Pahala, a Hawaii County fire department official said.

Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Hawaii, Legal, Transportation | Tagged: , | 1 Comment »

Big Island Police Searching for Missing 16-Year-Old Pahoa Girl

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Damon

1/30/13 I have heard reports that she has been found:

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 16-year-old Pāhoa girl who was reported missing.

Keolani Kaheiki-Sele

Keolani Kaheiki-Sele

Keolani Kaheiki-Sele was last seen Friday (January 18) in Pāhoa.

She is described as 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8, 120-130 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask that anyone with information on her whereabouts call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.

Filed under: Announcements, Big Island, Community, Hawaii, Kids, Legal, Missing, Pahoa | Tagged: , | Leave a Comment »

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