October deaths push year's traffic toll to 69

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

O'ahu's traffic death toll rose to 69 Thursday when a pedestrian who was struck by a car and injured Oct. 13 in Kane'ohe died at The Queen's Medical Center.

There were 56 traffic fatalities during the same period last year, police said.

There were 11 traffic deaths in October alone, and pedestrians accounted for three of them.

Yesterday, two men were critically injured in a three-car collision at 3:05 a.m. at Philip Street and Kalakaua Avenue in McCully. The accident involved a 1997 Volvo that was reported fleeing the scene of an earlier accident, a 2004 Toyota Celica and a 1991 Isuzu Rodeo.

Police said the speeding Volvo was headed mauka on Kalakaua when it ran a red light and broadsided the Celica, which was turning left onto Kalakaua from Philip Street near Washington Intermediate School. The impact forced the Volvo across the center median on Kalakaua and into the Rodeo, which was stopped for a red light.

The drivers of the Volvo and Celica, both men, were taken to Queen's in critical condition, police said. A passenger in the Celica went to Queen's in serious condition, police said. No other injuries were reported.

Vehicular homicide Lt. Bennett Martin said the Volvo had fled the scene of a collision at Ke'eaumoku Street and Kapi'olani Boulevard shortly before the collision.

The pedestrian who died yesterday was a 47-year-old man. Police said he was jaywalking across Kamehameha Highway just north of Kahuipa Street at 7:15 p.m. on Oct. 13 when he was struck by a car driven by a 61-year-old woman. He reportedly was in good condition when taken to the hospital, police said.

Martin called the high October death count puzzling. "There's no explanation for why it's high," he said, adding: "You'll find that alcohol and speed will be factors in most cases."

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com