By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

THE first fatal car accident on Guam this year claimed the life of 22-year-old Eric T. Tosie of Yigo early Saturday morning.
Guam Police Department public affairs officer Allan Guzman said GPD Highway Patrol investigators believe that Tosie’s blue Honda Prelude was traveling north on Marine Corps Drive in Yigo by Ace Hardware when the operator lost control of the vehicle and ran off the roadway and rolled over.
“The operator was transported to the Guam Memorial Hospital and was later pronounced dead,” Guzman added.
GPD’s Highway Patrol continues their investigation into this crash. They are also looking into whether speed and alcohol were factors in this case.
Second hit-and-run of 2007
A 17-year-old boy was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly hit a 49-year-old woman and fled the scene. The teen was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
Also arrested in this case was passenger the teen’s passenger, 29-year-old Kasrino Ichios of Yigo.
At 6:09 p.m. on Saturday, GPD officers responded to reports of a hit-and-run auto/pedestrian accident on Marine Corps Drive by the Micronesia Mall in Dededo. When police arrived at the scene of the accident, they found that the “responsible vehicle” had fled the scene towards the entrance of Two Lovers Point in Harmon.
“Preliminary reports indicated through witnesses that the suspected vehicle, a white Toyota Hilux pickup truck, was traveling east on Marine Corps Drive. Several people were crossing at the crosswalk when the white pickup truck failed to stop at the red traffic signal light. The pickup truck then struck the 49-year-old and failed to stop to render any assistance,” Guzman said.
Witnesses told police the vehicle turned into the Two Lovers Point entrance. Officers immediately looked for the suspected vehicle in the area.
“GPD Officers Tom Alger and Erwin Aquino made a check of the area by Two Lovers Point and discovered a white pickup truck parked along the side of an access road nearby with smoke coming from the vehicle,” Guzman said. “As the officers approached the vehicle, they noticed two men standing by the rear of the pickup truck. When the individuals noticed the police, they both immediately ran towards the jungle area.”
Police then began a foot chase and immediately apprehended the two.
Guzman said the 17-year-old was found “heavily intoxicated.” Police also found a 12-pack of beer in the vehicle.
The minor was charged with DUI with injuries, leaving the scene of an accident, drinking in a motor vehicle, open container, improper storage, consumption of alcohol, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. He was booked and confined at the Department of Youth Affairs.
Ichios was charged with jurisdiction over an adult. He was booked and confined.
The 49-year-old Japanese woman was transported to the hospital and was listed in stable condition as of 4 p.m. yesterday.
Sailor charged
U.S. Navy Engine Man Jode Lee Lasarte, 26, was officially charged in Superior Court on Saturday with leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving with bodily injury.
His next court hearing is set for Feb. 14. He is being held on $5,000 bail.
Lasarte allegedly drove the “dark sport utility vehicle” that struck a 21-year-old bicyclist on Thursday morning in Asan.
According to court documents, the bicyclist—identified as a sailor with the USS Frank Cable—was struck from behind while traveling southbound on Marine Corps Drive in Asan by the Harley Davidson shop.
The bicyclist was thrown to the shoulder of the road.
“Neighbors heard the metallic noise of the crash and came out to investigate,” a court document reads. “At the scene were parts of the bike, a helmet and other evidence. Another neighbor observed an SUV pull into Asan Federal Park about a quarter of a mile down the road, dislodge a bicycle from underneath his SUV, throw it aside, and then drive off towards the Naval Base.”
GPD alerted the Navy, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Section assisted police in their investigation of the hit-and-run.
According to documents, “Lasarte reported to his authorities that he hit a tree after going off the road which was inconsistent with the evidence of damage and transfer of bicycle tire letters on his Toyota 4-Runner. The defendant (Lasarte) recanted as to what happened when police interviewed him and said he didn’t leave the road but wasn’t certain what he hit.”