POLICE BEAT
3 motorcyclists hurt in Waialua crash
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser staff writer
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Three men were injured, one critically, when their motorcycles spun out of control yesterday on a notoriously dangerous stretch of North Shore roadway.
A 26-year-old Honolulu man remained in critical condition last night at The Queen's Medical Center following the 3 p.m. crash on Kaukonahua Road in Waialua, police said. Two other men were reported in serious condition following the crash, which occurred on a winding portion of the road between Thompson Corner and Wilikina Road.
At least two dozen people have been killed and more than 100 injured on that road in the last 20 years, according to city records. Since the beginning of this year, one person was killed and several others critically injured on the same road.
Police said yesterday's accident began when the 26-year-old driver of a black Honda motorcycle, who appeared to be speeding, failed to negotiate one of the sweeping turns on the roadway as he rode with at least four other bikers.
His motorcycle first struck a guardrail on the right side of the road, then bounced back onto the road, where it was struck by another Honda motorcycle, driven by a man in his 20s, police said. The second motorcycle then collided with a black Kawasaki motorcycle driven by a 23-year-old Wai'anae man.
All of the motorcyclists were wearing helmets, but all were thrown from their bikes by the force of the collision, police said.
The road was closed for more than three hours yesterday as police investigated the cause of the accident, which occurred on a stretch of the two-lane road known by local residents as "Snake Road" because of its many twists and turns.
Late last month, a 14-year-old boy died and his 15-year-old brother was injured when their mopeds crashed in the same area. Police said the boys were part of a group of about 60 moped riders on a North Shore outing. The dead boy, Gjino Kanahele, was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
At least three other drivers, including one motorcyclist, have been critically injured in accidents on Kaukonahua Road this year. A bicyclist also suffered critical injuries this year when he was struck by an outside mirror of a truck while riding on the road.
In 2003, city officials completed more than $210,000 work designed to improve safety on the road. The work included installing more than 11,000 feet of raised-dot rumble strips on the center line and 22,000 feet of raised dots on the side of the road. The city also banned passing on the roadway, which handles about 9,400 vehicles a day. Some motorcycle riders have complained, however, that the raised dots can make the road more dangerous for bikes that hit them.
FRIDAY NIGHT CRASH
Also yesterday, a 56-year-old man remained in critical condition after a two-car crash on Kamehameha Highway in Sunset Beach Friday night.
Police said the man, who appeared to be speeding and under the influence of alcohol, lost control of his vehicle late Friday night, crossed the center line and sideswiped a minivan driven by a 48-year-old North Shore man, who was not injured.
Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.
