UPDATE: Moped Death on Honoapiʻilani is 5th Fatality in 10 Days

Moped fatality, Maui Now image.

By Maui Now Staff

(UPDATE: 9:37 p.m. 4/14/2014)

A Maui woman operating a moped was fatally injured when she was struck from behind by a vehicle traveling in the same direction on the Honoapiʻilani Highway at Puamana on Monday afternoon, April 14, 2014.

Police have since identified the woman as Mary Fletcher, 50, of Kahului.

According to police reports, Fletcher was operating a 2011 Romeo brand moped and was stopped in traffic waiting to make a left turn into Puamana Beach Park, when she was struck from behind by a 2006 Ford Mustang that was being operated by a 78-year-old Kīhei man.

The incident was reported at 3:44 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2014, at mile 19.2 of the Honoapiʻilani Highway at the entrance to Puamana Beach Park.

According to a police report filed by Maui police Sergeant William Hankins with the Vehicle Homicide Unit, Fletcher was transported to the emergency room of the Maui Memorial Medical Center where she succumbed to her injuries and died.

Police say the operator of the Ford was treated and released at the scene for minor injuries.

According to Sergeant Hankins, the moped operator was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The report also indicates that the driver’s side airbag to the Mustang deployed as a result of the crash.

This was the eighth traffic fatality on Maui County roads this year compared to four at the same time last year.

It was also the fifth traffic fatality on Maui roadways in the last 10 days, and comes on the same day police issued a drive save advisory, urging motorists to slow down, buckle up, and put their phones away.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.

Police say the involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

UPDATE: 7:13 p.m. 4/14/2014:

The Honoapiʻilani Highway in West Maui is now open in both directions.

The road was closed for more than three hours in the area of Puamana while police conducted an investigation into a motor vehicle accident reported at around 4 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2014.

Motorists are reminded that it may take some time for traffic to resume its normal flow.

PREVIOUS POST: 4:01 P.M. 4/14/2014: The Honoapiʻilani Highway is closed in both directions at Puamana Park in Lahaina due to a motor vehicle accident. Maui police have not given an estimated time on when the road will reopen.