California Woman Succumbs to Injuries in Christmas Eve Moped Crash on Maui

Update: Dec. 29, 2020

A California woman has succumbed to injuries sustained in a Christmas Eve moped crash on Maui.

Police say Soumya Murugendrappa, 29, from Sunnyvale, California died at 3:05 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, 2020 while at the Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Her injuries stem from a motor vehicle crash that occurred on Dec. 24, 2020 at 6:18 p.m. on Honoapiʻilani Highway southwest of Māʻalaea Bay Place.

To date Maui County has 10 fatalities this year compared to 23 at the same time last year.

Later on the same evening, a motorcyclist died in a separate collision reported at 11:16 p.m. on Christmas Eve while traveling in the wrong direction on the Haleakalā Highway. 

Previous Post: Dec. 24, 2020, 10:06 p.m. 

A California woman suffered life threatening injuries in a Christmas Eve moped accident in Māʻalaea on Maui.

Police say the 29-year-old woman from San Jose, was operating a 2020 Genuine moped, and was traveling northeast on the Honoapiʻilani Highway within a marked bicycle lane when the accident occurred. 

According to police reports, the moped operator failed to notice debris in the bike lane, struck the debris, and was ejected onto the roadway.

The accident was reported at approximately 6:18 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020 on the Honoapiʻilani Highway (30), about 0.6 miles southwest of Māʻalaea Bay Place.

The woman was subsequently transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries as a result of the crash.

Police say the operator of the moped was not wearing a helmet and speed does not appear to be a factor. The involvement of drugs, and alcohol has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

The Honoapiʻilani Highway was closed in both directions until 8:05 p.m. on Thursday while police conducted an investigation at the crash site. 

Later in the evening, a motorcyclist died in a separate collision reported at 11:16 p.m. on Christmas Eve while traveling in the wrong direction on the Haleakalā Highway. 

The later accident, marked the ninth traffic fatalities on Maui County roads this year, compared to 23 at the same time last year.