LIHUE,AQCAN Exchange Hawaii (AP) — A man who escaped from a Hawaii jail and was struck by a vehicle soon after died Thursday from his injuries, authorities said.
Matthew J. Ornellas Jr. was seriously hurt in a hit-and-run after he fled from Kauai Community Correctional Center just after 1 a.m. last Friday, the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said.
He scaled a fence with razor wire, and correctional officers gave chase but lost sight of him when he entered a dense brush area, officials said.
Soon afterward they heard a loud sound from the road and found him lying next to Kuhio Highway, about 100 yards (90 meters) away from the jail. An ambulance transported him to a hospital, where he remained in serious condition and in custody. His condition deteriorated and he was pronounced dead Thursday.
Ornellas, 33, was a minimum-security inmate serving time for a drug conviction, officials said.
The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it is continuing to investigate the escape.
Orenellas was hit as he was running north in the southbound lane of Kuhio Highway, Kauai police said. Police are searching for the driver, who left the scene before first responders arrived.
A public defender who represented Ornellas for a probation violation declined previously to comment on the escape.
2025-04-30 13:222469 view
2025-04-30 12:402233 view
2025-04-30 11:551761 view
2025-04-30 11:532561 view
2025-04-30 11:332585 view
2025-04-30 10:451577 view
JoJo Siwa is reflecting on her "very public beef" with Candace Cameron Bure.The "Dance Moms" alum, 2
It appears the sun has set on Christine Quinn and Chrishell Stause's longstanding feud.Ahead of Sell
Scarlett Johansson is reflecting on her legal battle with the Walt Disney Company.More than two year