Theft arrest ends escapee’s freedom
An Oahu Community Correctional Center escapee was charged with car theft Saturday after a vehicle was stolen from outside a Waianae store, police said.
Benjamin Pabingwit, 28, who had been at large since his May 5 escape, was arrested at 7:15 a.m. on Hakimo Road, shortly after the car was taken while its owner was inside the store.
Officers then discovered that he was an escapee.
He was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and second-degree escape, and was charged Saturday night.
His bail was set at $25,000. He was also arrested on a $500 warrant.
In May 2011, Pabingwit was convicted of first-degree burglary, promoting a dangerous drug and other drug charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Woman killed as car crashes into ravine
A 19-year-old Mililani woman died Sunday when the 2008 Chevy Malibu sedan she was driving went into a ravine off Kamehameha Highway, ejecting her from the car.
The accident happened near Waikalani Drive in Mililani at about 6:45 a.m.
Police said the woman was speeding toward town when she lost control of the car.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Hawaii News Now identified her as Shana Hatchie Kieffer and said she was not wearing a seat belt.
Her death is the 29th fatality on Oahu roads so far this year, compared with 23 at the same time last year.
Police officers closed the town-bound lanes of Kamehameha Highway for about three hours while they investigated the crash.
