In brief: Navy IDs pilot presumed dead after collision

LEMOORE, Calif. – A Navy fighter pilot presumed dead after two jets crashed in the far western Pacific Ocean was identified Sunday as Lt. Nathan Poloski, 26, of Lake Arrowhead, California.

Poloski was the subject of a 36-hour search in the waters off the U.S. territory of Wake Island after two F/A-18C Hornets collided in midair Friday. Wake Island is 2,300 miles west of Honolulu.

The other pilot safely ejected, was rescued from the ocean by helicopter and was treated and released from medical facilities aboard the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson.

The pilots and their squadron were from Carrier Air Wing 17, based at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

The cause of the collision was under investigation.

Small quake hits Northern California

COVELO, Calif. – A small earthquake rattled parts of Northern California.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 3.5 quake struck Sunday at 1:17 p.m. PDT about six miles south of Covelo in Mendocino County. The epicenter was about 120 miles west of Sacramento.

No damage was reported.

The quake was about 150 miles north of the epicenter of a magnitude 6.0 temblor that caused extensive damage in Napa and the surrounding area on Aug. 24.

Lava flow might block Hawaii road

PUNA, Hawaii – Road crews on Hawaii’s Big Island have begun clearing access roads in case a lava flow from a nearby volcano cuts a main highway.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense agency reported Sunday that the lava flow had advanced about 150 yards since Saturday. The flow is about 0.2 miles from a sparsely populated neighborhood.

Residents aren’t in imminent danger but have been asked to prepare for an evacuation. County spokesman Mark Dayton said it’s difficult to predict when the flow might reach the neighborhood of about 30 homes.

The lava could flow across Highway 130 in about three weeks at its current pace, so crews are preparing alternative routes. The flow has advanced about 10 miles since June.