Suicide Investigation Launched into Ukumehame Fatality

By Wendy Osher

Maui Police have opened a suicide investigation into a pedestrian-vehicle incident reported in Ukumehame over the weekend. The pedestrian suffered fatal injuries during the incident and died on scene, according to police. He was described as 49-years-old with no local address. His identification is pending notification of next of kin.

MauiNOW file photo.

An investigation shows the man intentionally walked into the path of the vehicle, according to police. The man suddenly appeared from over a concrete barricade on the makai side of the highway, said Lt. Wayne Ibarra of the Maui Police Department.

The man was struck by a 2010 Chevy four-door vehicle driven by a female visitor from Canada. The woman was traveling South on the highway towards Kihei at around 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2010, when the incident occurred just south of mile post 13 of the Highway in Ukumehame.

Maui police say there were two prior reports documenting attempted suicide including one a year-and-a-half ago in which the man reportedly threatened his life by saying he would run into traffic.

The roadway was completely closed for about 25 minutes before Police opened one lane for alternating traffic. The road was completely reopened just before 11:30 p.m.

*** If you found this post interesting, you may also want to check out our story on a separate, unrelated pedestrian fatality on November 25th, 2010 in Napili.