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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, February 1, 2007

Maui hit-run victim dies; suspect arrested

By Advertiser Staff

WAILUKU, Maui — A 40-year-old Wailuku man died Monday after being struck by a car while walking along an unlighted construction area on Mokulele Highway.

Matthew Manibog apparently was walking on the shoulder of the road at about 10 p.m. Sunday when he was hit by a Kahului-bound GMC Jimmy sport utility vehicle about 1 1/2 miles north of the Pi'ilani Highway intersection, said Lt. Jeffrey Tanoue of the Maui Police Department's Traffic Section. Manibog died the next morning at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

The vehicle that struck Manibog did not stop, but another motorist who witnessed the collision provided police with the SUV's license plate number, and a suspect was arrested later that night. The suspect, Leona Figueira, 40, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident and driving without a license. She was released after posting $1,200 bail.

Tanoue said the collision occurred in a construction area that is part of a state project to widen Mokulele Highway to four lanes. He said there is no lighting at the spot and it was very dark at the time of the incident.

Manibog is Maui's second traffic fatality of the year, compared with the same number a year ago.