Kihei Man Suffers Fatal Injuries in Wailea Motorcycle Crash

By Wendy Osher

Wailea Alanui Drive. Photo taken in the area of a fatal motorcycle crash reported overnight. The accident has since been cleared, and is under investigation. Photo by Wendy Osher.

(Update: 9:00 p.m. July 31, 2011)

Maui police have since identified the man killed in a single vehicle motorcycle accident Sunday morning (July 31, 2011) as Kenneth J. Talbot III, 28, of Kihei, Maui.

(Posted: 8:39 a.m. July 31, 2011)

A 28-year-old Kihei man suffered fatal injuries in an early morning motorcycle crash in South Maui today, Sunday, July 31, 2011.

The accident was reported at approximately 12:27 a.m., on Wailea Alanui Drive about one mile North of Kuakahi Street near the Fairmont Kea Lani . The accident forced the closure of Wailea Alanui Drive in the southbound direction between 12;45 and 4:30 a.m. while police conducted an investigation.

According to police reports, the man who was operating a Kawasaki motorcycle, appeared to have failed to negotiate turn, struck a median, and then crashed into a tree. The motorcyclist died at the scene. Authorities say there was no indication at the time of the crash that the man was wearing a helmet.

The identification the man is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. Authorities say the man did not have identification on him at the time of the crash.

Speed, alcohol and and drugs are being investigated as possible factors.

This was Maui’s 11th traffic fatality compared to nine at the same time last year.