Police said the moped rider and the car that hit him were traveling toward Wahiawa and that the car had passed several other cars when it drove into the back of the moped.

The moped rider, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said the driver of the 2003 Volkswagen sedan that collided with the moped stopped and got out of his car but later took off running along Kamehameha Highway toward Hale'iwa.

The car driver, a 27-year-old Windward O'ahu resident, was located by police and arrested on suspicion of fleeing the scene of an accident and negligent homicide.

Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the case.

There had been 38 traffic fatalities on O'ahu by this time last year.