Fatal hit-and-run yields pair of arrests
Two men were charged Thursday in connection with the hit-and-run crash that killed a 30-year-old man Saturday in Kaneohe.
Mark K. Salangdron of Ewa Beach was charged with fleeing the scene of an accident and extortion. His bail was set at $250,000.
He was arrested at 11:25 a.m. Tuesday at Wet’n’Wild water park in Kapolei, where he works.
A second man, 25-year-old Elijah Kawai-Aweau, was charged with hindering prosecution and was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
A source close to the investigation said the driver, Salangdron, was charged with extortion for allegedly threatening a witness in the case, and Kawai-Aweau, a passenger in the vehicle, tried to destroy evidence.
Both men are scheduled to appear in District Court today.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Matthew Fragas of Kaneohe and said he died of cranial cerebral injuries from the crash.
A vehicle, likely traveling toward Kailua, hit Fragas on Kahekili Highway at 2:15 a.m. Saturday near Ahuimanu Place. He was not in a crosswalk, and alcohol may have been a factor, police said.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Fires called suspicious
Firefighters on Maui and Molokai extinguished three brush fires that might have been intentionally set.
No one was injured in the three fires.
A fire in Halawa Valley on Molokai was reported at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. Fire crews had the blaze under control 30 minutes later and extinguished at 11:30 p.m.
Fire investigators said that because five points of ignition were discovered, the fire might have been intentionally set.
On Maui, firefighters fought two small brush fires about a mile and a half apart at about the same time Wednesday.
One brush fire was reported at 11:56 p.m. at 871 Lahainaluna Road. Fire crews had it under control by 12:06 a.m. and extinguished 50 minutes later. An estimated 2,500 square feet was burned.
The other brush fire was reported at 11:57 p.m. near Papalaua Street mauka of Honoapiilani Highway. It was under control by 12:17 a.m. Thursday and extinguished 15 minutes later. It burned about 500 square feet.
Fire officials said the time of the Maui fires and their proximity to each other make them suspicious.
Council OKs ban on aerial hunts
The Hawaii County Council has approved a bill banning aerial hunting.
The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Thursday the Council unanimously approved a bill to outlaw killing any animal for any reason from a helicopter, plane or any other similar means from the air.
Public comments were generally in favor of the ban. A minority of opponents say aerial shooting is a necessary tool to control the population of hoofed animals, generally pigs, goats and axis deer.
