UPDATE: Visitor Dies in Haʻikū Moped Crash

File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A visitor suffered fatal injuries in a moped crash in Haʻikū on Saturday, police confirmed.

Maui police have since identified the man as Rama Fire, 36, of Washington (state).

The incident was reported at 10:38 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, on Kokomo Road, about 150 north of Lilikoʻi Road in Haʻikū.

According to police reports, the black 2012 Ningbo moped that the man was operating, crossed over the double solid yellow lines while traveling north on Kokomo Road, and collided into the left front of a grey 2003 Audi A4 sedan traveling in the opposite direction.

Police say the moped operator was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, and died at the scene as a result of the collision.

All three occupants of the Audi–the 43-year-old Haʻikū woman driving the car, and her passengers, a 20-year-old Haʻikū man, and a 17-year-old Makawao girl–were uninjured, according to police. All three were wearing their seat belts according to police reports. Although the vehicle was equipped with airbags, police say, the device did not deploy upon impact.

Sergeant William Hankins with the Vehicle Homicide Section filed a report indicating that the involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol remain under investigation.

The incident was the 13th traffic fatality on Maui County Roads this year.