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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 11, 2003

Man killed, 1 injured in separate crashes

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 30-year-old Kaneohe man died Thursday night after a motorcycle crash in Ka'a'awa, and a 52-year-old was critically injured yesterday in a one-car crash on Pali Highway.

The medical examiner's office identified the motorcyclist as Ronald D.K. Lopes Jr. An autopsy was conducted yesterday to determine the cause of death.

Investigators said he was traveling north on Kamehameha Highway on a 1993 Honda motorcycle when he veered off the road and onto the right shoulder, 124 feet south of Hi'iaka Road, at 8:48 p.m. Thursday.

A 1979 Toyota pickup truck driven by a 24-year-old Waiahole man was behind Lopes and may have struck the motorcycle, police said.

The pickup driver, who was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, could face other charges if it is determined that Lopes died from being struck by a pickup truck rather than the motorcycle crash, police said.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to call vehicular homicide investigator Lisa Reed at 529-3157.

It was O'ahu's 62nd traffic death of the year, compared with 49 at this time last year. It was the fourth fatality of the month and 10th in the six weeks since Sept. 4.

Eight of the year's 62 fatalities involved motorcyclists. Police said Lopes was not wearing a safety helmet.

Police also were investigating a Pali Highway crash yesterday that was discovered by a patrol officer at 4:37 a.m. near the off-ramp to the Pali Lookout.

A 52-year-old man was found in a car that had crashed into a brush area. He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

The patrol officer found the car crash while investigating why street lights were out on the Kailua-bound side of Pali Highway near the tunnel.

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