Wailuku man dies of injuries suffered in weekend Wailuku crash

A Maui man died Sunday of injuries suffered in a single-car crash in Wailuku over the weekend.  Authorities have identified the man as 39-year-old Rafael Purugganan of Wailuku.  The accident was reported at 2:04 a.m. Saturday, July 3, 2010 on the Honoapiilani Highway, about 1,711 feet south of Kuikahi Drive in Wailuku. 

According to police reports, Purugganan was ejected from the vehicle when the driver lost control of the 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan, collided with a dirt embankment and overturned.  The 26-year-old Kihei woman driving the car, and a 25-year-old Haiku man who was a passenger, suffered serious injuries and were being treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

The involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol are being investigated as possible factors in the crash.  Maui police say the accident was the 9th traffic fatality in Maui County this year compared to eight at the same time last year. 

(Posted by Wendy Osher)