Woman crossing Kahului intersection in wheelchair fatally injured

Update: July 14, 2024

The victim has since been identified as Mary Kanohokula, 71, of Kahului.  The Maui Police Department extended condolences.

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A Kahului woman has died of injuries sustained while she was attempting to cross the road while operating an electric wheelchair on Saturday morning, police said. The incident occurred at 11:17 a.m. on July 13, 2024, on West Wākea Ave. at the intersection with Oneheʻe Ave. in Kahului.

A preliminary investigation reveals that a silver 2024 Lexus SUV executed a left turn from the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center onto West Wākea Ave. when it collided into the woman, who was traveling northbound within the marked crosswalk on West Wākea Ave.

As a result of the collision, the 71-year-old woman operating the wheelchair, sustained critical life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for treatment, where she later succumbed to her injuries and died, police said.

The operator of the Lexus, a 69-year-old Wailuku woman, remained on the scene until police personnel arrived and did not report any injuries.

Investigation reveals that the operator of the Lexus was wearing a seatbelt at the time and airbags did not deploy. The involvement of speed does not appear to be a factor, according to police.

The involvement of alcohol or drugs has yet to be determined as the investigation remains ongoing.     

This was Maui County’s ninth traffic fatality of 2024, compared to seven at the same time last year.