About 3,600 homes in 'Ewa Beach had no running water or reduced water service last night after a private contractor working along Fort Weaver Road accidentally cracked a 36-inch water main yesterday afternoon.

Repair crews were attempting to patch the hole in the pipe last night and it was hoped water service would be restored by this morning, Honolulu Board of Water Supply spokeswoman Tracy Burgo said.

Board spokeswoman Su Shin said the break occurred about 2 p.m. Shin said the break was noted at 91-1200 Fort Weaver Road, near the entrance to the Hawai'i Prince Golf Club. "That's the main line for the whole community," she said.

The city dispatched three water wagons to provide water to residents last night. Tanker trucks were set up near 'Ewa Beach Elementary School and 'Ewa Beach Community Park to provide water for residents, and a third water wagon was roving the community.

1,800 HOMES LOSE ELECTRICITY

A problem with an underground cable knocked out electricity to more than 1,800 Kane'ohe households last night. The area of the power failure was in the Kahekili Highway, Kea'ahala Road, Ha'iku Road area.

Power went out about 8:45 p.m. More than half of those affected had electricity restored by 10:15 p.m., Hawaiian Electric Co. said. Spokesman Jose Dizon said the remainder without power would be switched over to other lines by 11 p.m.

Dizon said rodents or insects can cause a short circuit by chewing through line insulation, and that water infiltration also can cause a short.

CRASH FATALITY WAS FROM LIHU'E

Lee Villatora, 33, of Lihu'e, who was killed in a two-vehicle accident on Rice Street in Lihu'e Saturday night, was the island's 13th traffic fatality of the year, police said.

Villatora was a passenger in a car driven by Douglas Moises, 52, also of Lihu'e. Police said Moises was flown to the Queen's Medical Center on O'ahu for treatment of his injuries in the head-on crash.

The driver of the truck, Robert Galchutt, 31, of Kapa'a, was released after treatment for his injuries. His passenger, Maria Bartziokas, 58, of Canada, underwent surgery and was hospitalized.

POLICE INVESTIGATE WOMAN'S DEATH

Big Island police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 56-year-old Hawaiian Ocean View Estates woman who was found Sunday morning with head injuries.

Police were called to a home on Paradise Parkway at 9:20 a.m., where officers found the woman down an embankment near the home.

She was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Police are withholding her name pending notification of next of kin and have ordered an autopsy.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Jefferson Grantz of the Kona Criminal Investigations Section at (808) 326-4646, ext. 275, or the police nonemer-gency number at 935-3311.

FUNDRAISER AIDS PARALYSIS PATIENT

Family and friends of a man who was left paralyzed after spinal surgery are raising money to help him pay for a motorized wheelchair and other equipment he now needs.

James Gazelle, 29, lost the use of his arms and legs after the surgery on May 18. He was recently married and is expecting the birth of his first child.

Gazelle's supporters held a fundraiser last night at Don Ho's Island Grill at Aloha Tower, and hope to raise enough money to pay for the wheelchair and a modified van so that he will be as mobile as possible.

Cash donations may be made at any Bank of Hawaii branch under the account name "Friends of James Gazelle."

Gazelle is a longtime employee of Papa John's Pizza Hawaii who rose through the company ranks to become operations manager last year.

For more information, call 341-6949.