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Arrest made in death of 18-year-old cyclist

Carpet Arnel Ulep Abuluyan was arrested at 2:30 p.m. yesterday onsuspicion of failure to render aid in the death of Aldridge, 18.Abuluyan was being held at the main police station cellblock.

Police seized a white GMC Savannah van with front-end damage ownedby Abbey Carpet & Floors from Kuroda Auto Body in Waipi'o asevidence. Abuluyan is employed by the carpet company.

Police said a tip led to the arrest.

Last night, Abuluyan's family said that he is single and lives athome at the 'Oliana Street address with his mother and a sister.

Arnel Abuluyan came to Hawai'i from the Philippines in 1983, hissister Evelyn said. She lives in San Jose, Calif., and is inHawai'i visiting, she said.

"I was a little shook," when the police came and arrested him, shesaid late last night.

His sister Verlita said that Arnel Abuluyan works for Abbey Carpetinstalling carpet. His sister Evelyn said he drives a white van forthe company.

Aldridge was riding his bicycle home after work along KamehamehaHighway near the Dole Plantation when a speeding vehicle veeredonto the shoulder and struck him at around 1:35 a.m.

A passing motorist spotted Aldridge in the grass next to thehighway and contacted authorities.

The young man was first taken to Wahiawa General Hospital incritical condition.

He was later transferred to The Queen's Medical Center, where hedied at around 5 a.m.

Aldridge's death led to an outpouring of community reaction, with areward offered for information leading to an arrest and a fundcreated to assist the family.

After the wreck, Aldridge's family and police put out a publicappeal for information into the incident.

Police issued a description of a suspect vehicle, but it was saidto be a red GMC truck with lights on top.

Memorial service

A memorial service for Aldridge, who wanted to attend college inGermany and become an entrepreneur, was held Tuesday at SchofieldBarracks. Burial was to be in Jeffersonville, Ind.

A Leilehua High School graduate, Aldridge was described by friendsand family as fun-loving and outgoing. His father, Army Staff Sgt.David Aldridge, said his friends nicknamed his son "McLovin'."

Many who knew the younger Aldridge expressed shock and sorrow thatthe young man's life ended suddenly just as it was set to take off.

Struck riding home

The manager of a Burger King restaurant where Aldridge had beenemployed for several months as a food service worker said Aldridgeworked the 4 to 10:30 p.m. shift, and then would ride his bicycleto the Helemano Military Reservation where his family lived on APono Court.

The elder Aldridge, who has been deployed twice to Iraq, was on anArmy training mission in Texas when his son was struck and killed.

He returned home early the next day to be with his wife, Susanne,and the couple's 3-year-old daughter, Destiny.

Attempts to reach him last night were unsuccessful.

Reach Kelli Miura at 535-2467 or kmmiura@honoluluadvertiser .com.

Reach Rod Ohira at

rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com and John Windrow at jwindrow@honoluluadvertiser.com

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