Crash victim was new enlistee
A 20-year-old Mililani man killed Monday in a two-car crash near Honolulu Airport had just enlisted in the Hawaii Air National Guard and was awaiting orders to attend basic training in Texas.
The Medical Examiner’s Officer identified the victim as Mark Spofford.
The Hawaii Air National Guard said Spofford was to be assigned to the 154th Maintenance Squadron after completing basic training and technical school.
Police said the accident was at Kamehameha Highway and Valkenburgh Street at 4:05 a.m. Police said Spofford was driving a sedan south on Valkenburgh when a Jeep traveling west on Kamehameha Highway broadsided his car. Spofford was ejected from his car, police said. He was taken in extremely critical condition at 4:40 a.m. to Tripler Army Medical Center, where he died.
Pedestrian hurt in accident
A 24-year-old female pedestrian was critically injured in a traffic accident at 7:34 p.m. Wednesday in Kakaako, officials said.
The accident occurred at Kapiolani Boulevard and Kamakee Street, police dispatch said.
The woman was taken by ambulance to a trauma center in serious condition, an EMS supervisor said, but her condition worsened en route to the hospital.
Police shut down all westbound lanes of Kapiolani Boulevard between Ward Avenue and Kamakee Street while they investigate.
Traffic was rerouted onto Kamakee Street.
Video of man drinking while driving leads to his arrest
A 53-year-old Kapaa man who posted online a video of himself driving while drinking has been charged, Kauai police said Wednesday.
The four-minute video shows a defiant driver who pops open a bottle of what looks appears to be beer and drinks it while speaking into a camera and driving.
Richard Godbehere Jr. states on the video: "I’m so happy to be drinking and driving. We all know drinking and driving is against the law; you’re not supposed to do that. But they didn’t say anything about driving and drinking."
Multiple tipsters emailed police Feb. 19 after seeing the video on LiveLeak.com, said Sarah Blane, spokeswoman for Kauai County.
Police investigated the matter, and Godbehere was arrested Feb. 22 and later charged with consuming or possessing liquor while operating a vehicle and driving without a license.
He is scheduled to appear in court on April 3.
Godbehere posted a followup video on LiveLink.com, saying the bottle was filled with cream soda and that his arrest is diverting law enforcement from going after real criminals.
Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry said: "Our traffic laws are in place for a reason, and Mr. Godbehere’s blatant disregard for those laws is the type of behavior that won’t be tolerated."
Anonymous tipsters can call CrimeStoppers at 241-1887 or complete an online suspicious activity report by going to www.kauai.gov/police.
