Moped Rider Dies in Waiehu Beach Road Collision

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

A Wailuku man suffered fatal injuries when the moped he was operating was rear-ended by a motorcycle on Waiehu Beach Road, on Monday afternoon, police said.

The incident was reported at 3:53 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 29, 2013, on Waiehu Beach Road, at the Linekona Place intersection.

Maui police have since identified the victim as Earle Maielua, 47, of Wailuku, Maui.

A preliminary investigation conducted by Maui police reveals that a 2004 Suzuki GSXR motorcycle was traveling west on Waiehu Beach Road, when it collided into the rear of Maielua’s black 2012 Ningbo GTX moped.

Police say both vehicles were traveling west on Waiehu Beach Road when the incident occurred.

Following the collision with the moped, the motorcycle continued west and sideswiped the left side of a 2004 Honda Accord four door sedan that was parked facing west along the west bound shoulder of Waiehu Beach Road, police said.

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

As a result of this collision, the 25-year-old motorcycle operator from Wailuku suffered minor injuries and was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center Emergency Room, according to a report filed by Maui Police Sergeant William Hankins with the department’s Vehicle Homicide Unit.

According to the report, Maielua sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Both the operator of the motorcycle and the operator of the moped were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, according to police reports.

Speed is suspected as a factor while alcohol and/or drug involvement remain under investigation, said Sgt. Hankins.

In response to public inquiry, Lieutenant William Juan said, “There was no active pursuit involved in this motor vehicle crash.”

The incident was Maui County’s 12th traffic fatality compared to 20 at the same time last year.

Waiehu Beach Road was closed for several hours while police conducted an investigation.  The section of road between Eha Street and Kahului Beach Road was reopened at 8:15 p.m.

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Lower Waiehu Beach Road, Oct. 28, 2013. Photo by Wendy Osher.