Motorcyclist injured in Haleiwa crash
A 25-year-old man was critically injured when his motorcycle struck a telephone pole on Paalaa Road off Kamehameha Highway in Haleiwa early Sunday morning, according to an Emergency Medical Services report.
Police closed Kamehameha Highway between Weed Circle and Paalaa Road for about two hours while traffic investigators examined the crash scene.
The highway reopened at about 5:30 a.m.
Paramedics took the man to the hospital in critical condition.
Downed power line likely cause of fire
Firefighters battled a brush fire Sunday on a remote ridge near the end of Palehua Road in Nanakuli.
Firefighters had a difficult time reaching the fire and asked staff from nearby Camp Timberline and Monsanto to help them gain access to the blaze, fire Capt. Carlton Yamada said.
The fire, first reported around 12:54 p.m., was likely caused by a downed power line, Yamada said.
Fire officials had firefighters hike in to fight the blaze, rather than send a helicopter to drop water on potentially exposed or unstable power lines. Yamada said that by evening the fire was moving toward a more remote area, where it was expected to burn itself out.
An overnight watch was maintained to be sure the fire did not flare out of control. No injuries were reported and no structures were threatened.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Crash in Haiku kills moped rider
A moped operator died on Maui late Saturday when his vehicle crossed the center line on Kokomo Road and collided with a sedan, police said.
The man, 36, died at the scene, about 120 feet north of Kilikoi Road in Haiku. Police said he is believed to be from Washington state.
The driver of the four-door Audi, a 43-year-old Haiku woman, and her two passengers, a Haiku man, 20, and Makawao girl, 17, all wearing seat belts, were unharmed.
The moped rider was not wearing a helmet, police said.
Police are investigating whether speed or drug or alcohol use were involved.
This was Maui County’s 13th traffic fatality for 2013. There were 20 at this time last year.
200 tires burn in sugar mill pit
Maui firefighters battled a fire in a tire pit at HC&S Sugar Mill on Saturday, the third fire at an HC&S facility in the past three weeks.
The fire involved a 200-by-200-foot pit containing about 200 heavy equipment tires at the rear of the Puunene mill off Hansen Road.
The fire was first reported at 5:15 p.m. and was brought under control by 7:50 p.m.
No injuries were reported and no monetary damage was incurred. The tires were considered junk.
On Oct. 12, a fire at the company’s Puunene facility caused $13,000 damage to equipment. Another fire on Oct. 18 caused $500,000 damage to an HC&S pump house off Mokulele Highway. The cause of that fire was ruled "suspicious."
According to the Maui News, there have been 13 fires at HC&S facilities and cane fields since July.
