Ex-officer directing traffic dies

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

MA'ALAEA, Maui — A 54-year-old retired police sergeant was killed early yesterday when he was struck by a pickup truck while directing traffic at a highway-widening project.

Antonio A. Funes of Wailuku was directing traffic around the construction project on Honoapi'ilani Highway just north of the North Kihei Road junction when he was struck at 2:46 a.m. by a 2002 Chevy S-10 pickup, police said.

The driver, Bruce B. Mauvais, 56, of Lahaina, was charged with first-degree negligent homicide and was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail. Police said Funes was wearing high-visibility clothing and white gloves, and was using a flashing light to direct traffic when he was hit. He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:48 a.m.

Funes retired in 1997 after 22 years with the Maui Police Department that included work as a homicide detective. Funes' death was Maui County's fourth traffic fatality of the year, compared with nine a year ago.

Advertiser staff writer Vicki Viotti contributed to this report.