POLICE BEAT
Motorcyclist dies in Likelike crash
Advertiser Staff
The death of an 18-year-old motorcyclist early yesterday on Likelike Highway marked O'ahu's fifth traffic fatality within 10 days.
The victim of the 3:07 a.m. crash died at the scene of the one-vehicle crash. The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office last night was awaiting confirmation of identity before releasing the man's name.
Police vehicular homicide investigator Sgt. John Agno said the man was headed south on Likelike Highway when he apparently lost control of his 1992 Honda motorcycle at a bend in the roadway north of the H-1 Freeway and Kalihi Street split. The motorcycle struck the right guardrail and the cyclist slid several feet on the guardrail before being ejected, Agno said. The man, who was not wearing a helmet, suffered apparent internal, right arm, head, torso and leg injuries, according to police.
He was pronounced dead by city Emergency Medical Services personnel at 3:37 a.m. Speed appears to have been a factor in the crash, police said.
Since June 5, two elderly pedestrians — Bonifacio Libosado Sr., 79, and Florence Tamura, 84 — and motorcyclist Derek Francis, 27, have been killed on O'ahu roadways. Additionally, a 79-year-old male pedestrian critically injured Jan. 14 in Kalihi died Friday at The Queen's Medical Center. His identity has yet to be released by the medical examiner's office.
'AIEA GARAGE FIRE WAS INTENTIONAL
A 57-year-old 'Aiea resident early yesterday extinguished a garage fire that investigators determined was intentionally set.
Police are investigating the case as first-degree arson.
The Ali'ipoe Drive resident told police he was awakened at 12:55 a.m. by the sound of a vehicle driving off and went out to investigate because a motion-sensing light was on. The resident reported that he saw flames coming from his garage but was able to put out the fire with a garden hose, police said. The five occupants of the home were not injured. Police have made no arrests.
19 MEN, 3 WOMEN FACE DUI CHARGES
Police arrested 19 men and three women on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant over a 12-hour period that started at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Of those arrested, three were charged as repeat offenders with $1,000 bail. They are John Patrick Mendonsa, 23, of Village Park; Christopher K. Camarillo, 33, of Makiki; and George P. Elias, 39, of Ala Moana. Mendonsa was stopped at South Nimitz Highway and Bishop Street, Camarillo at Pali Highway and South School Street, and Elias on Kamehameha Highway near the Polynesian Cultural Center.
