Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 4:46 AM HST

Wrongly imprisoned man dies following mo-ped crash

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ A man who built a successful business in Hawaii after serving close to 20 years in a California prison for a murder he didn't commit died yesterday of injuries he received in a traffic accident in Honolulu. Police say DeWayne McKinney wasn't wearing a helmet when the mo-ped he was operating drifted off Waialae Avenue about 12:38 a.m. and hit a bus stop sign and utility pole. The 47-year-old McKinney was taken to The Queen's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Police said speed may have been a factor in the crash, but not alcohol. McKinney was convicted of the 1980 Orange County, California, killing of a Burger King manager after four employees identified him in court as the gunman. He was cleared of the crime in 2000 after another man confessed his role in the crime. McKinney used settlements with the Orange Police Department and the state of California to start an ATM business in Hawaii. (Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved)