LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is seeking information on two pieces of DOT equipment that were vandalized last month. Sometime between Dec. 17 and Dec. 20, vandals busted the windows of a DOT flail mower and extension mower
LIHU‘E — The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation is seeking information on two pieces of DOT equipment that were vandalized last month.
Sometime between Dec. 17 and Dec. 20, vandals busted the windows of a DOT flail mower and extension mower parked along the shoulder of Kaumuali‘i Highway near Kahili Mountain Park. DOT maintenance engineer Willy Ortal said he believes the window were shot out.
Repairs for both are estimated to cost taxpayers $10,000.
“It prevents us from doing our job,” Ortal said. “The glass has to be there to protect the operator.”
The equipment, which takes two months to make its slow circuit around the island, is used to mow grass and maintain roadside easements and shoulders. Bringing the equipment back to DOT for storage would be a waste of time and resources, Ortal said.
A similar incident has occurred before.
“Last year, someone shot at an excavator by Princeville Airport,” Ortal said.
Ortal said DOT will now park equipment closer to residences in the hope that if something happens again, there will be witnesses.
Anyone with information concerning these incidents are asked to call DOT at 241-3032 or Kaua‘i Police Department at 241-1711.
