Overview

• Matthew J. Ornellas Jr. escaped from the Kauai Community Correctional Center early Friday, only to be hit by a vehicle moments later.
• Ornellas, serving time for a drug charge, was found seriously injured and is now hospitalized in police custody.
• The hit-and-run occurred approximately 300 feet from the jail; authorities are still searching for the driver.
• The Kauai Community Correctional Center is a medium- and minimum-security facility, offering various rehabilitation programs.
• The incident highlights challenges posed by the state’s aging correctional facilities and their security concerns.