Police yesterday released a 37-year-old Waialua man but still consider him the prime suspect in a fatal hit-and-run collision July 22 in Wahiawa, authorities said.

Arnel Ulep Abuluyan, the Abbey Carpet & Floors installer arrested Saturday at his home, was released pending further investigation for negligent homicide and failure to render aid.

He was arrested in connection with the death of 18-year-old David Wayne Aldridge II, who died after a vehicle hit him as he was bicycling home along Kamehameha Highway.

Abuluyan was released after being held at the main police station cellblock for about 46 hours. By law, a suspect can be held for no more than 48 hours without being charged.

Vehicular homicide investigations are complicated and often take longer than 48 hours. Sometimes it takes months to indict a suspect

Speaking in general terms and not specifically of the Aldridge case, Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said: "The investigation has to progress to the point where a conclusive decision can be made that one, a crime was committed, and two, that the (person charged) is the one who committed the crime. And there is sufficient evidence to prove these things before a grand jury or judge at a preliminary hearing."

A tip led to Saturday's arrest of Abuluyan and the seizure of a white Abbey Carpet & Floors GMC Savana van with front-end damage, police said.

The van was at Kuroda Auto Body in Waipi'o.

PARTS FOUND AT SCENE

The van, which is being examined for evidence, has damage consistent with vehicle parts recovered at the accident scene on Kamehameha Highway, about half a mile north of Nui Avenue near Dole Plantation, police said.

Aldridge was hit while riding a bicycle on a paved shoulder by a vehicle headed toward Hale'iwa, police said.

The accident was reported at 1:35 a.m.

Police said a security guard at Dole Plantation, who heard a "bang" reported seeing a red flat-bed truck headed north when he went to investigate.

With no witnesses to the actual collision, police considered the possibility that the red truck might be involved and issued a Honolulu CrimeStoppers bulletin seeking help in finding it.

After examining parts found at the scene, investigators determined the vehicle involved was a 2006 Chevrolet Express Cutaway or a 2006 GMC Savana Cutaway.

MISSING POLICE REPORT

Roy Tokuhama, owner of the Waiau-based Abbey Carpet & Floors, and manager Natalie Okouchi said the company called police to report that one of their vehicles was damaged in an accident on July 22.

A police report was filed, according to Okouchi.

Police say they have a record that a 911 call was made and that a beat officer was sent to Abbey Carpet, but no record of a written police report.

The beat officer checked to see if there were any red-flagged cases in which the van could be involved. His check came back negative, police said.

Traffic investigators, meanwhile, ran computer checks for about a week looking for reports of vehicles with heavy front-end damage.