Posted on: Tuesday, June 7, 2005

DRIVE TIME

By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer

Angela Cagata-Ursua knows something about all those pedestrian accident victims out there. She was one of them.

Late on Jan. 5, she was halfway across Kapahulu Avenue, carrying her 14-month-old daughter, when a car turning left from Date Street swept through the intersection and ran over their empty baby stroller and knocked the two to the ground.

"Bam! The stroller was swept from my hands. A man driving a brown car with four doors hit my stroller, which flew to the front of the Bank of Hawaii, and he just left. He didn't bother to stop and see if me or my daughter were hurt at all," she said.

Fortunately, someone driving a green van — she didn't get his name or address — got the license plate of the driver's car and reported it to police.

Now, fast forward three months to the date of her court appearance, Cagata-Ursua says.

"I waited four hours at the courthouse for the prosecuting attorney to ask me one question: 'Did you see the driver of the car when the incident happened?' "

Of course, she didn't. It was dark and it all happened so fast. A few phone calls later the prosecutor came back to say the case "had to be dropped because I could not ID the man that was driving the car." It might have helped, he said, if the man in the green van had been known and available to testify that he followed the guy and got his license-plate number.

"So I need your help," Cagata-Ursua said. "Could you please help me find the man in the green van and other witnesses that were there on Kapahulu Avenue at about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 5, 2005? I want to reopen this case and make that man take responsibility for what he has done. He got away scot-free."

Maybe it's a long shot, but if you can help, send us your information and we'll pass it along to her.

Meanwhile, the calls, letters and e-mails continue to come in from DriveTime readers offering suggestions to cut down on the number of pedestrian accidents in Hawai'i.

Here's some recent offerings:

• The biggest threat to pedestrians is drivers running traffic lights and right turns on red lights. Many pedestrians, however, are their own most serious threat because they walk against lights or cross in the middle of blocks where there are no crosswalks. This is especially dangerous at night, when even light-colored clothing may not help much. — Bill Farris

• To avoid being killed, I had to adopt the following attitude: 1. Never cross as soon as the light turns green. Always wait for the driver to wave at you to cross. 2. Never cross as soon as the light turns green. — Kendi Ho

• The pedestrians must pay attention to traffic and make eye contact with drivers. Those who fail to do so will get injured or worse. Stop being victims, and take responsibility for yourselves! — Gary Suzukawa

• The answer to reduce pedestrian accidents is to fine pedestrians (no matter what age) for jaywalking. The police cannot be kind and understanding. For a while they should just fine heavily until pedestrians get the idea that jaywalking is illegal (if not dangerous). — Ethel Iwasake

• Delay the "walk" signal two seconds after the stoplight turns red. What I notice is that most pedestrians will look at the walk signal instead of checking for oncoming cars. Once the signal indicates "walk," BOOM, you see them taking a step into the crosswalk without checking the lanes. By delaying the signal two seconds, you allow the cars that entered the intersection late to pass by before anyone steps into the crosswalk. — Spencer Gibu

• All the new laws on the books won't do much good unless speed of traffic is reduced. Try going down Kapahulu Avenue or King Street or Kapi'olani Boulevard at the posted speed limits and you will find that you are not keeping up with the flow of traffic. — Kay Ellis

• People can feel safe on the sidewalks, but they should not feel safe walking on the road, even in crosswalks. They should feel threatened and fear for their lives. Ninety percent of these accidents can be avoided by pedestrians being observant, patient and alert. — Stan Lum

Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.