The Honolulu medical examiner's office yesterday identified a pedestrian who died Thursday at The Queen's Medical Center after being struck by a van in Kane'ohe as Albert Beers, 55.

An autopsy listed cause of death as blunt-force injuries of the head due to a motor vehicle collision and the manner as accidental.

Beers, who had no permanent local address, was struck by a 1997 Dodge van while in a crosswalk on Kamehameha Highway, 25 feet south of Pahia Road, at 9:50 p.m.

The van's driver, a 46-year-old man, was not injured.

LINGLE OKS $9M FOR NEW PRISON

Gov. Linda Lingle has released $9 million to move the Maui Community Correctional Center to Pu'unene.

The new Maui Regional Public Safety Complex will be built on a 38.8-acre site. The new facility, which will house more than 840 inmates, will replace the existing overcrowded Maui Community Correctional Center at Wailuku by 2012.

The new public safety complex will be program-intensive and house minimum- and medium-security inmates.

It will also include space for support functions such as intake services, healthcare, drug and sex-offender treatment programs, parole programs, education and vocational services, and other intensive reintegration programs.

COUNTY FAIR WILL HONOR VOLUNTEERS

Maui County is hosting a fair July 26 at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center to celebrate volunteerism.

The "Join Hands" Volunteer Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. will feature entertainment, door prizes and representatives from nonprofit and community organizations including groups focused on the environment, social issues, health, youth and aging.

"Volunteers play a significant role in making a difference in our community," said Wendy Stebbins, Volunteer Center coordinator. "This fair will celebrate these dedicated volunteers and provide information about volunteer opportunities currently available."

KAILUA, KONA FIRE DAMAGES HOME

Four fire companies on the Big Island responded to a fire at a two-story home in Kailua, Kona, late Sunday night that caused about $200,000 in damage.

Both occupants of the home escaped without injury, Big Island firefighters said, and the fire was contained primarily to the second floor.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Firefighters got the fire call at 10:47 p.m. and were on the scene on Kepano Place 10 minutes later.

The fire was declared under control at 11:22 p.m. and extinguished by 11:43 p.m.

American Red Cross volunteers aided the residents overnight with food, clothing and shelter.

BURGLARY SUSPECT, 15, IS RELEASED

A 15-year-old boy suspected of breaking into an apartment in the Kaimuki area and stealing a purse, two laptop computers and jewelry was released to his guardians late Sunday night after spending the day in jail. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary.

Police said the robbery was reported at 12:40 a.m. Sunday morning after a 30-year-old man and 26-year-old woman saw someone leaving the lanai of an apartment complex with the laptop, jewelry and purse in hand.

MOTORCYCLE CRASH SURVIVOR FOUND

A 41-year-old Kaua'i man who wandered away from the scene of a motorcycle crash in Hanapepe Saturday night was found yesterday and flown to The Queen's Medical Center in stable but guarded condition, Kaua'i police said.

Police identified the injured man as James Espiritu of Kekaha, who moved to Kaua'i from O'ahu two weeks ago.

Espiritu's badly damaged motorcycle was found in the area of the Hanapepe Valley lookout Sunday at 6:13 a.m. Police and fire personnel searched until 7:45 p.m. for Espiritu but were unable to locate him.

Shortly after resuming the search at 7 a.m. yesterday, Espiritu walked out of Hanapepe Valley to where police had set up a command post. He was taken to Kaua'i Veterans Memorial Hospital, then transferred to Queen's.

POLICE SEARCHING FOR MISSING MAN

Big Island police are seeking the public's help in finding a 28-year-old Waimea man who was reported missing Feb. 13.

Frank Ng Jr. is 5-feet-8 and about 175 pounds, and has tattoos on his left forearm and back. There are unconfirmed reports that Ng may be on Maui, police said.

Anyone with information on Ng's whereabouts can call Detective Kenneth Quiocho at 326-4646, extension 281; the police department's nonemergency line at 935-3311, or Big Island Crime-Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.