Traffic accidents claim two lives
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
Two people are dead and several injured in a series of accidents across O'ahu since Friday evening.
An 18-year-old woman riding a bicycle was killed Friday night in Mo'ili'ili when she was struck by a car.
Fire crews clear a section of Pali Highway after three accidents occurred within minutes of each other. O‘ahu roads were slick from rain yesterday.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
The bicyclist, a Mo'ili'ili resident, was crossing South Beretania Street by Star Market near Kai'ali'u Street at 8:10 p.m., when she was struck by a Honda Accord on Beretania, police said.
The woman was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The 45-year-old driver of the Honda was not injured.
Police do not believe that speed and alcohol were factors in the accident. The bicyclist was in a crosswalk at the time of the accident.
In other traffic news:
• One man was killed and another seriously injured in a single-car accident early yesterday outside Wahiawa.
Police said the 2:30 a.m. accident occurred on Kaukonahua Road near Wilikina Drive. The 28-year-old driver lost control of the car, which hit a guardrail, then struck a utility pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. A male passenger was taken to Queen's in serious condition.
• In Kane'ohe, police said speed and alcohol may been factors in a Friday evening motorcycle crash that critically injured a 19-year-old man.
The driver lost control of his motorcycle along a turn near Nakuluai Street around 11 p.m. and crashed into two mailboxes. He was taken to Queen's with extensive head injuries.
• In Nu'uanu, rainy weather and rubbernecking by drivers may have contributed to three accidents on the Pali Highway that occurred within minutes of each other yesterday.
The series of accidents shortly after noon, about a mile before the Pali tunnels, involved a total of eight cars. The accidents affected traffic in both directions for nearly two hours.
Fire officials at the scene said a two-vehicle accident occurred on the Honolulu-bound side of the Pali Highway.
The crash, which distracted curious drivers passing by, was followed by two more accidents, one on each side of the highway.
Six people were sent to hospitals for further examination and treatment, but none suffered life-threatening injuries, said Honolulu Fire Capt. Eddie Oda of the Nu'uanu station.
Roads were slick yesterday as slow-moving showers hit O'ahu late in the morning and drifted westward.
The rain started in some areas at about 11 a.m. By 2 p.m., 1à inches of rain had fallen in Manoa. Clearer skies are expected today.
