Inmate Escapes Hawaii Jail, Hit by Vehicle in Serious Hit-and-Run Incident
An inmate who escaped from the Kauai Community Correctional Center in Hawaii on Friday morning became the victim of a serious hit-and-run just moments later, authorities said.
Matthew J. Ornellas Jr. managed to escape from the jail just after 1 a.m., according to the Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Moments later, he was struck by a vehicle while running along Kuhio Highway.
Correctional officers found Ornellas about 100 yards from the jail, seriously injured from the incident. He was subsequently hospitalized and remained in serious condition and in police custody on Friday.
Authorities are still searching for the driver of the vehicle, who fled the scene before first responders arrived, Kauai police said.
Ornellas, who is serving a sentence for promoting a dangerous drug, escaped after scaling a fence with razor wire, according to Rosemarie Bernardo, a spokesperson for the department.
John Calma, a public defender representing Ornellas for a probation violation, declined to comment on the alleged escape.
The Kauai Community Correctional Center houses approximately 130 beds and offers various programs including education, substance abuse treatment, religious counseling, cultural arts, and work furlough programs.
The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation acknowledges that their facilities are aging, hindering their ability to reduce recidivism and promote safer communities. Ongoing investment is deemed critical for the department to carry out its vision.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
