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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 7:39 p.m., Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Kaneohe hit-and-run victim identified

Advertiser Staff

ISLAND-BY-ISLAND BREAKDOWN

As of today, 53 people have died in traffic accidents this year in Hawai‘i as compared to 66 by this date in 2007.

The updated 2008 island-by-island breakdown as compiled by The Advertiser:

  • O‘AHU (23) — Vehicle (10 deaths/9 crashes; pending one medical), pedestrian (7), motorcycle (4), moped (1), bicycle (1).

  • BIG ISLAND (12) — Vehicle (9), motorcycle (2), pedestrian (1).

  • MAUI (11) — Vehicle (5, includes one for Moloka‘i), motorcycle (4), pedestrian (2).

  • KAUA‘I (7) — Vehicle (6 deaths/5 crashes), pedestrian (1).

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    A bicyclist struck by a hit-and-run driver in Kane'ohe yesterday died of multiple blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle collision, an autopsy determined today.

    The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified the victim as Kenzie Thompson, 63, of Kane'ohe.

    Thompson is the sixth person to die since June 5 due to a motor vehicle collision. Three pedestrians and two motorcyclists account for the other five.

    O'ahu's fatality count for the year stands at 23, 13 less than by this time in 2007.

    Police vehicular homicide investigator Sgt. Danny Kaholokula said Thompson was riding a Schwinn 15-speed bicycle on the east sidewalk of Kamehameha Highway near Pua Inia Street when he was rear-ended by a 1989 Thunderbird, which had veered off the roadway and onto the sidewalk.

    The driver of the T-Bird, an 85-year-old man from Haiku Plantations, drove off but police arrested him at 10:05 a.m., 17 minutes after the collision with the bicyclist was reported. The suspect was booked for negligent homicide and failure to render aid before being released pending further investigation.

    Thompson died yesterday afternoon at The Queen's Medical Center.