Posted on: Sunday, May 1, 2005

One dead, one critical in hit-runs

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Separate hit-and-run incidents early yesterday morning left a bicyclist dead and a pedestrian in critical condition, police said.

A 50-year-old Kailua man died after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle on Kailua Road at about 3:50 a.m., police said. The bicyclist was wearing dark clothing and didn't have a headlamp on his bike. He was riding southbound against traffic and was hit head-on by a gray Buick sedan headed northbound.

The driver of the Buick, a 20-year-old Honolulu man, did not stop to help the bicyclist, police said. He was later arrested in the parking lot of a nearby market. The bicyclist was taken to Castle Medical Center in critical condition and died at 5:15 a.m.

Police said speed and alcohol may have been factors, but offered no further information. The speed limit in the area is 25 mph.

A separate hit-and-run happened a few moments before on the town side of the island.

A witness reported seeing a man lying in the road on Ward Avenue near Queen Street shortly after a car had passed at about 3:30 a.m., police said.

The man, who appeared to be in his 40s, was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.