Two elderly women were critically injured Thursday morning when they were hit in a marked crosswalk by a vehicle in downtown Hilo.
Hilo police said an 86-year-old Hilo woman and an 86-year-old visitor from Oahu were crossing Kinoole Street in a marked crosswalk at Mamo Street at 10:50 a.m. when a blue 2016 Toyota Corolla driven by an 88-year-old woman hit them.
The pedestrians were taken in critical condition to the Hilo Medical Center, and both were flown to an Oahu hospital for further treatment. The driver was uninjured.
Police opened a negligent injury investigation, and asked that anyone who witnessed the incident to call Officer Debney Jaramillo at 961-2213 or the police nonemergency line at 935-3311.
Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
Suspect arrested in alleged kidnapping
Hawaii County police arrested a 19-year-old man Wednesday afternoon in connection with an alleged kidnapping in Hilo.
Police issued a bulletin for David John Erlenbach, who was wanted for questioning in the case.
At about 1:15 a.m. Wednesday, police said a 19-year-old woman reported that a man identified as Erlenbach held her against her will in his vehicle.
The victim and Erlenbach are known to one another.
After the victim tried several times to escape from the suspect while the vehicle was on Kinoole Street near the intersection of Lanikaula Street, police said the woman managed to exit the vehicle and yelled for help.
Nearby residents assisted her and called police as the woman’s abductor fled.
Police arrested Erlenbach Wednesday afternoon at a Hilo residence.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information on the kidnapping case is asked to call police at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300.
Escaped patient returned to state hospital
A Hawaii State Hospital patient was returned to police custody Thursday, a day after she escaped near downtown.
Leia McNeely was being transported to an appointment when she ran from escort staff about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, the state Department of Public Safety said.
Circuit Court Judge Colette Garibaldi sent McNeely to the hospital in August after finding her unfit for trial in a second-degree robbery case.
In that case, McNeely had been charged with robbing a Waikiki bank in March 2016. Police said she entered a bank, handed a teller a demand note, and left without any money. She was arrested less than a half hour later on Seaside Avenue.
