An inmate at the Kauai Community Correctional Center in Hawaii made a daring escape in the early hours of Friday morning. Matthew J. Ornellas Jr. managed to flee the facility by scaling a fence topped with razor wire. He was serving a sentence for promoting a dangerous drug at the time of his escape.
Shortly after his escape, Ornellas was struck by a vehicle while running along Kuhio Highway. The driver of the vehicle fled the scene before authorities arrived. Ornellas was found by correctional officers approximately 100 yards from the jail, seriously injured from the hit-and-run incident.
Following the accident, Ornellas was hospitalized and remained in serious condition. He was placed under police custody as investigations into the incident continued. The public defender representing Ornellas, who was also dealing with a probation violation case, refrained from commenting on the escape.
The Kauai Community Correctional Center, which houses around 130 beds, not only serves as a jail but also offers various programs such as education, substance abuse treatment, religious counseling, cultural arts, and work furlough programs to its inmates.
Authorities are still on the lookout for the driver involved in the hit-and-run incident. The Hawaii Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is working in conjunction with the Kauai police to gather more information and ensure the safety and security of the community.
