A white stretch limousine traveled the wrong way on H-1 Freeway for several minutes in the Liliha-Makiki area last night before a police patrol car escorted it safely off.

Police said the limo was observed heading east in the freeway's westbound lanes about 8:30 p.m.

A police dispatcher said it was possible the limo entered the westbound lanes via the School Street offramp.

Several minutes later, it was reported that a police car escorted the limo off the freeway.

FREEWAY FATALITY WAS 'AIEA MAN

The Honolulu medical examiner's office yesterday identified a man who died after being struck by a car while running on Moanalua Freeway Monday night as Anthony Matavao, 23, of 'Aiea.

An autopsy yesterday said Matavao died of a head injury.

Police said Matavao was one of three men arguing in a car that had stopped on Moanalua Freeway east of the Ahua Street overpass in Mapunapuna at 11:30 p.m. Monday.

The rear-seat passenger left the car and began crossing the freeway. The front-seat passenger ran after him, police said.

Both men were struck by a Chevrolet Cavalier driven by a 66-year-old Pearl City man.

The other pedestrian, a 20-year-old man, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center with critical injuries and was still hospitalized yesterday.

Matavao's death is classified as O'ahu's 12th pedestrian fatality of the year. Overall, 34 people have died in traffic accidents on O'ahu this year.

FUGITIVE ARRESTED AFTER DIP IN OCEAN

A fugitive wanted on a parole-revocation warrant was charged yesterday with auto theft, fleeing the scene of an accident and driving without a license.

Ernest Vierra, 23, was arrested Tuesday in Nanakuli, police said, after attempting to elude capture by diving into the ocean.

Officers said they spotted Vierra on the Wai'anae Coast about 11 a.m. driving a stolen car, which they said eventually hit two parked vehicles while being pursued.

Vierra and a woman passenger got out and ran away, police said. Officers lost sight of the woman, who was still at large last night, but caught up with Vierra when he went into the ocean near the intersection of Farrington Highway and Hakimo Road.

After swimming and treading water for a short time, Vierra came ashore and was arrested.

He was held in lieu of $50,000 bail plus the $10,000 warrant. He has six prior criminal convictions, according to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records.

ANNIS APPOINTED DEPUTY AT DAGS

Barbara Annis has been named deputy comptroller and deputy director of the state Department of Accounting and General Services.

Gov. Linda Lingle, who made the appointment, said Annis has private-sector accounting and management experience that will help the department improve government efficiency.

Annis was chief executive officer at the law firm Oliver Lau Lawhn Ogawa and Nakamura. She also was a former vice president of finance for Arvak Inc., controller for Village Resorts and the Outrigger Canoe Club, and comptroller of the St. Louis-Chaminade Education Center.

Annis replaces Kathi Thomason at the department. Thomason returned to the private sector.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS GIVEN

Marine Corps Base Hawaii and Hickam Air Force Base's cultural resources manager were among the winners of the U.S. secretary of defense's environmental awards for fiscal 2006, the Pentagon announced yesterday.

Hickam's Gary M. O'Donnell was picked as the winner for best cultural resources management by an individual and team. Marine Corps Base-Hawai'i was the award recipient for pollution prevention at nonindustrial installations.