Maui crash kills boy visiting from Texas
An 8-year-old boy from San Antonio died yesterday morning on Maui in a car accident that shut down Honoapiilani Highway near Ukumehame Wayside Park for several hours.
Will Smith was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition and was pronounced dead at 1:43 p.m.
At about 9:20 a.m. he was with his mother, Susan Moulton, who was driving Maalaea-bound on Honoapiilani Highway. A 2003 Mazda sedan going Lahaina-bound had overtaken a vehicle, lost control, veered into the shoulder lane and then crossed the center, slamming head-on into Moulton's car. Smith was sitting in the front passenger seat.
After crashing into Moulton's car, the Mazda sedan crashed into two other cars that were parked unattended.
The drivers were also taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, and were treated and released. They were all wearing their seat belts.
Police and emergency personnel closed down all but one lane of the highway until 3 p.m., said Mahina Martin, Maui County spokeswoman. Police are investigating whether speed, drugs or alcohol were factors.
Police said this was the 10th traffic fatality this year, compared with six at this time in 2006.