Kahului Pedestrian Dies in Launiupoko Hit-and-Run; Public Help Sought

By Wendy Osher

Launiupoko Beach Park. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Maui police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a vehicle and driver that fled the scene of a fatal collision early this morning with a pedestrian near Launiupoko.

Maui police say 19-year-old Failagi Vite Laloulu of Kahului died at the scene as a result of the crash.

The accident was reported at 4:22 a.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011 on the Honoapiiani Highway (Hwy 30) near Launiupoko Beach Park.

According to police reports, Laloulu was within the north-bound lane of the highway when she was first struck by a red 2005 Chevy pickup truck that was Lahaina-bound.

Maui police began rerouting traffic around the scene at 4:41 a.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2011. The main highway was reopened by 8:31a.m. File photo of cane haul road near Launiupoko, by Wendy Osher.

As a result, Laloulu was propelled into the south-bound (Wailuku-bound) lane of travel, where she was struck again, this time by an unidentified vehicle headed in the Wailuku-bound direction.

The operator of the Chevy pickup stopped and remained at the scene. Authorities say the driver was a lone-occupant that was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was not injured.

The driver of the unidentified vehicle fled the scene.

Maui police are requesting the assistance of members of the public who may have information leading to the unidentified vehicle and driver of this crash.  Those with information are urged to contact the Maui Police Department, Traffic Division at (808) 270-6537.

The involvement of speed, drugs, and alcohol have not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

This was Maui County’s 18th traffic fatality in 2011, compared to 10 at the same time last year.