Police said a minor traffic incident escalated into attempted murder Saturday night near Ala Moana Center, and landed a man in the hospital with critical injuries.

Maurice Nakama, 25, was charged Wednesday with the savage beating of a 45-year-old man who had just finished crossing Kapi'olani Boulevard at Mahukona Street with his wife about 10:35 p.m. Saturday.

According to court documents, Nakama was a passenger in a silver 2002 Volkswagen Jetta that overshot a red light and stopped in the Kapi'olani crosswalk as the couple was trying to cross from the makai to the mauka side.

It was raining, and the husband asked the driver to back out of the crosswalk because his wife, 42, had a brace on one of her legs and had been instructed not to get the brace wet, according to court documents.

The driver refused, and he and his passenger, later identified as Nakama, began arguing with the husband. Rather than stand in the heavy rain, the wife and husband walked around the car, continued on their way and the car drove off, according to a detective's statement filed in court.

The next thing the couple knew, they were jumped from behind by the driver and Nakama, police said.

According to court documents, Nakama began beating the husband, knocking him to the ground. The wife tried to intervene, but was pulled away by the driver.

The wife told police that the driver restrained her while Nakama beat her husband unconscious.

The wife was treated and released at The Queen's Medical Center but her husband was hospitalized in critical condition with severe head and brain injuries. Police yesterday said the husband remained hospitalized but had improved significantly since the night of the beating.

During the fight, the wife grabbed the driver of the Jetta and tried to hang on to him until help arrived. But the driver beat her in the head and knocked her to the ground.

Police said a passer-by got the license plate number of the car. Officers found the car and the driver, but not Nakama.

The wife later identified the driver and he was arrested. The car was towed to the main police station and locked in an evidence cage.

Nakama was arrested on Sunday at the main police station on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder and charged Wednesday. His bail was set at $75,000.

Neither Nakama nor his attorney could be reached yesterday to comment.

A preliminary hearing on the charge against Nakama is scheduled for Monday morning in District Court.

The driver was released without charges pending further investigation. His lawyer, Guy MaTsunaga, yesterday said he does not believe that his client will be charged with any wrongdoing.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.