Holiday crashes Labor Day weekend traffic accidents across the state have killed two people and critically injured two others.
kill 2
2 bicyclists are killed in collisions
with cars, and 2 other
wrecks injure the driversBy Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.comThere were no Labor Day weekend accidents reported last year.
The latest accident involved a hit-and-run in Mililani, where police said a couple in a black Mitsubishi convertible struck and killed a 35-year-old female bicyclist.
Police said the accident happened at 12:37 a.m. and that speed and alcohol may have factored in the crash.
The accident, which occurred on Kamehameha Highway between Kipapa Street and Waikalani Drive, comes after an increased call for traffic safety by police and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Because nationally the holiday weekend usually has a high fatality rate, police said last week all islands would be setting up sobriety checkpoints.
According to MADD-Hawaii, the National Safety Council predicts that one in two traffic fatalities during the holiday weekend will be alcohol-related.
"We're crying out to people to be responsible," said Judi Wilson, executive director of MADD-Hawaii. "Whether it's alcohol or speeding, the vehicle is like a weapon, and people need to be thinking when they get into their cars."
The accident in Mililani occurred as both the car and the bike were traveling Diamond Head-bound.
Police said the victim was thrown from her bike and was not wearing a safety helmet. She was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency crews.
Wahiawa police arrested two suspects in the case, a 21-year-old male and a 20-year-old female, for negligent homicide and failure to render aid.
Police said they located both suspects about 20 to 30 minutes after the accident as both allegedly were returning to the scene.
They were released pending further investigation.
Police did not say which suspect in the Mililani crash was believed to have been driving the car. They also said the bicyclist did not appear to have any lights on her bike.
The hit-and-run accident comes a week after another fatal crash on the H-1 freeway. Police said 18-year-old Nicholas Tudisco was racing another car when he lost control and collided with a van, killing 58-year-old Elizabeth Kekoa.
Tudisco also was arrested for negligent homicide and released pending an investigation.
Other accidents took place on neighbor islands and involve victims crossing the center line and getting struck by oncoming traffic, police said.
On Maui, a 50-year-old female bicyclist was killed Saturday after a head-on collision on Baldwin Avenue.
Police said she was on a bicycle tour with Maui Downhill Bicycle Tours when the accident happened. Police identified the victim as Kathleen Bartos, who they said crossed the center line into oncoming traffic.
On Kauai, a 52-year-old man was traveling westbound on Kaumualii Highway when he crossed the center line and his vehicle collided with an 18-wheel gasoline tanker, police said.
The victim was taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital in critical condition and was later transferred to the Queen's Medical Center.
The man remained hospitalized yesterday in guarded condition.
And on the Big Island, a 53-year-old man was critically injured Friday after he overturned his car on Waikoloa Road in South Kohala.
The victim, a resident of Pahoa, Puna, was driving his 1978 four-door sedan makai on Waikoloa Road at about the 10-mile marker when he attempted to pass another vehicle and lost control of his car.
The victim was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
Star-Bulletin reporter Leila Fujimori contributed to this report.