A 55-year-old man is in police custody after fleeing the scene of seven consecutive traffic accidents, which injured three people, between Lihu‘e and his Kapa‘a home in a 20-minute span Friday afternoon, according to county officials. Randy Melendez was arrested
A 55-year-old man is in police custody after fleeing the scene of seven consecutive traffic accidents, which injured three people, between Lihu‘e and his Kapa‘a home in a 20-minute span Friday afternoon, according to county officials.
Randy Melendez was arrested at his home Friday around 12:41 p.m. and charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of first degree criminal property damage, four counts of reckless driving, four counts of accidents involving damages, three counts of accidents involving injuries and one count of resisting order to stop motor vehicle.
According to a preliminary report, the first accident occurred near the junction of Rice Street and Kapule Highway at about 12:19 p.m..
Melendez, driving a Chevrolet S10 truck, turned right onto Kapule Highway and collided with a Toyota pick-up truck that was waiting to make a left turn from Kapule Highway toward Nawiliwili.
After the collision, Melendez continued driving north and became involved in six other accidents along Kapule Highway and Kuhio Highway between Lihu‘e and Kapa‘a without stopping to report any of the crashes.
Police caught up with Melendez after the seventh accident, which occurred in Kapa‘a near the ABC Discount Store, and ordered him to stop.
Refusing to do so, Melendez continued driving, finally stopping in the driveway of his Kapa’a residence, where he was arrested. Bail was set at $21,000, according to county spokeswoman Mary Daubert.
Three victims in the accidents involving Melendez were taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, where they were treated and released, Daubert said in a press release.
