Inmate dies after being struck by hit-and-run driver during alleged escape attempt
Police are still searching for the driver. A 33-year-old Kauai inmate, Matthew J. Ornellas, has died after he was hit by a hit-and-run driver moments after he allegedly escaped from a prison. The inmate was being held at the Kauai Community Correctional Center for promoting a dangerous drug and had escaped after scaling the prison's perimeter fence. Correctional officers lost sight of him after he entered a dense brush area and finding him in a ditch with serious injuries. He was taken to the Wilcox Medical Center, where his condition deteriorated and pronounced dead. Police are still searching for the driver.
Publicados : 4 semanas atrás por HNN Staff no General
LIHUE (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 33-year-old Kauai inmate has died after he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Authorities say the crash happened moments after the inmate escaped from a Kauai prison.
Officials have identified the inmate as Matthew J. Ornellas.
He was serving time at the Kauai Community Correctional Center for promoting a dangerous drug.
Prison officials offered their condolences to the family.
Ornellas escaped last Friday after scaling the prison’s perimeter fence. Correctional officers pursued Ornellas on foot, but lost sight of him after he entered a dense brush area.
A short time later, the officers heard a loud sound from the roadway and then saw a vehicle making a U-turn on Kuhio Highway, accelerating toward Kapaa. The officers found Ornellas in a ditch with serious injuries. He was taken to the Wilcox Medical Center, where his condition deteriorated.
Officials said he was pronounced dead Thursday.
Police are still searching for the hit-and-run driver.
Anyone with further information is asked to call (808) 241-1616.
Tópicos: Traffic, Crime