Witness believes driver had green light

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Kapolei Knolls resident who said he witnessed an elderly couple being struck by a car Sunday while crossing Farrington Highway says he believes the driver had the green light while proceeding through the intersection.

Ron Espiritu of Papaiaulu Avenue, whose home overlooks the intersection of Farrington Highway and Papaiaulu, was in his back yard when he heard tires screeching shortly before 7 p.m.

"The person who got hit flew up," Espiritu said in a telephone interview yesterday. "Initially, I thought it was only one person. The lady was so small and wearing dark clothes that I didn't see her."

Espiritu said the man, 79, and his wife, 75, were at a marked crosswalk. He said at least three cars were moving in both directions on Farrington, indicating the light had changed.

The driver of the car is a 20-year-old Wai'anae man.

"I think the car definitely had the green," said Espiritu, who didn't think the vehicle was speeding. "The red hand (don't walk sign) was flashing, so they just didn't get across in time.

"My wife said she heard the driver of a van say that he almost hit them, too, and had to swerve," Espiritu added. "My wife said there was a caretaker there who was saying, 'I told you to wait for me' (to the couple) and that someone said they were visiting from Texas."

The woman was in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center. Her husband also is hospitalized, but his condition is unknown.

The woman's husband declined a request for comment yesterday.

Police are continuing their investigation.

Although speeding might not be a factor in this case, several area residents are concerned about the road.

"I watch guys going flying down the highway going over 60 and motorcycles doing wheelies," said Ed McCourt, a Kapolei Knolls resident and former chief of the state's Maritime Law Enforcement Division. "There have been a lot of close calls."

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