Senior latest death on North King

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

An 82-year-old Kalihi man yesterday became the second elderly person killed since December on a half-mile stretch of North King Street that some call a pedestrian's nightmare.

The man was struck while running across King Street — not in a crosswalk — to catch a bus, police said.

"No matter what you do, people are going to cross that street to get to the bus stop," Ho said. "That is where the crosswalks should be. They know it is wrong to jaywalk, but when they see a bus coming, they are not going to walk down to the light and back to get across the street."

The driver, a 48-year-old Punchbowl man, was trying to pass a westbound city bus at the stop when he hit the man about 7 a.m.

The victim, who was not identified, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center with critical injuries, and pronounced dead at 9:02 a.m.

The motorist was arrested at the Kalihi police station on five unrelated outstanding traffic warrants.

Ho said crosswalks that used to be at bus stops in front of the school were moved to the traffic lights about 150 feet away several years ago. Ho said he unsuccessfully lobbied the Legislature at the time to move the crosswalks back.

"I'm concerned about the kids," he said. Farrington's fall semester begins Aug. 25. "It is my job to keep them safe, and I knew this was a problem as soon as I saw it."

Patsy Asuncion, who lives in a second-floor apartment overlooking yesterday's accident scene, was on the phone to report the accident when she heard sirens approaching.

"People walk in front of buses and across the street without looking," Asuncion said. "If only people would use the crosswalk — which they don't. I was shaken up when I saw him laying there."

Maryann Gianantoni, a physical therapist with First Physical & Functional Rehab behind the bus stop, also heard the commotion and went outside to look.

She saw the victim lying face down in the street with traffic moving slowly to avoid him. One of his shoes had been knocked off, she said.

North King Street was closed to traffic between Houghtailing and Kalihi streets for nearly two hours during the police investigation.

On an average weekday, about 23,000 vehicles travel the stretch of North King Street, which is lined with businesses, schools and apartment buildings. About 450 buses use the roadway every day, according to the city.

In December, a 63-year-old woman was hit by a car and killed while walking to a bus stop on North King Street at Richard Lane, about a half-mile from yesterday's accident. Another senior was killed in late 2000, and two more injured in early 2001 at the intersection of North King Street and Peterson Lane, where the city later installed a traffic signal for safety.

Stella Wong, executive director of Catholic Charities Elderly Services, said seniors don't want to walk the extra 100 yards or so to get across the street, and they don't want to wait for the next bus.

Wong, whose office is on Pali Highway near Jack Lane, another area known for pedestrian accidents, has her staff escort seniors to a crosswalk and across the street to the bus stop.

"I told my staff we will not have anyone killed going out of our office," Wong said. "The Pali is dangerous. At our senior center, we've had to give training on safety over and over."

Within hours of yesterday's accident, seniors with grocery bags in hand and walking with canes were jaywalking across North King Street as if nothing had happened.

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.