Pedestrian Killed in Honoapiʻilani Crash
By Wendy Osher
A pedestrian suffered fatal injuries after being struck by a pickup truck on the Honoapiʻilani Highway Monday night.
Maui police say the identity of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The incident was reported at 11:54 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 near Mile Post 22 of the Honoapiʻilani Highway, south of the Hīnau Street intersection in Lahaina.
According to police reports, the 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck was traveling south on the highway when it drifted into the bicycle lane and struck a pedestrian. Police say the operator of the truck was a 32-year-old Wailuku man.
The pedestrian sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene, according to Maui police.
The incident was the 16th traffic fatality on Maui County roads this year, compared to 23 at the same time last year.
Sgt. William Hankins with the department’s Vehicle Homicide Section issued a report saying that the possible involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol have not been determined, as the investigation is ongoing.
Police closed the highway for more than four hours between Pāpalaua and Kenui streets. The Honoapiʻilani Highway was reopened at around 4:45 a.m. today, following an on-site investigation.