StarBulletin.com

Generous man victimized in hit-and-run


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POSTED: Thursday, January 01, 2009

Friends and family say Lindsay Kane would be the first to help someone in need.

               

     

 

Help for the Kane family

        Donations to help defray medical costs for Lindsay Kane's family can be made to the Lindsay Kane Memorial Fund at all Bank of Hawaii branches.

Yet a pickup truck driver who struck and fatally injured the 47-year-old motorcyclist on Monday never stopped to help. Kane died that night.

“;If you injured somebody, the human thing to do is stop and give aid,”; said Kane's older brother Rod. “;I am angry at the driver for leaving my brother that way. My brother always had a kind heart for people. He would give the shirt off his back.”;

Police have asked for witnesses who may have seen the driver of the large teal pickup truck that struck Lindsay Kane in Waipahu. Of particular interest to police are the drivers of two vehicles the culprit nearly collided with as he fled the scene.

The truck, which is registered to a Waipahu resident, was found just before 8 p.m. Tuesday on Leonui Street in Waipahu, but the driver was not located, police said.

Kane was riding his Harley-Davidson along Farrington Highway near Aniani Place at 3:20 p.m. when the pickup truck veered in front of him and hit him, police said.

The truck then went through a nearby Chevron station, exited on Waikele Road, headed onto Farrington, ran a red light, turned left and, after nearly hitting two vehicles, proceeded Waianae-bound on Farrington, police said. Part of the flight was captured on surveillance video at the Chevron station.

Kane was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where he died.

Police have opened a negligent-homicide and failure-to-render-aid investigation.

Police Maj. Frank Fujii would not say whether the registered owner is a suspect, but said if investigators do have a list of suspects, “;it might be a short one.”;

“;To the driver: 'Let your conscience be your guide,'”; Fujii said.

Police are accepting information at 529-3499.

Family and friends were shocked and devastated by the news of Kane's death.

Close friend, fishing buddy and co-worker Pat Quinn said he spoke to Kane less than two hours before the accident, and was waiting for a call back when he heard the bad news from Kane's cousin on the mainland.

“;He was an amazing guy, a really talented carpenter,”; he said.

Quinn echoed Rod Kane's sentiments that whenever someone needed help, “;he'd back you up.”;

Quinn recalled the time when he was at sea with another fisherman who was suffering from an aneurysm and had to get him to the harbor in Lanai.

Quinn reached Kane on his cell phone. “;He pretty much helped me through it,”; he said. “;He was right there.”;

Rod Kane notified all the friends and contacts on Lindsay's cell phone of his death.

“;I want to celebrate my brother's life,”; he said. “;I want to include his friends because my brother was a good man. He had a good heart. He was kind. I want to just make sure his friends can come out and celebrate with my brother one last time because he will be missed and won't be forgotten.”;

Lindsay Kane grew up in Pauoa Valley, the youngest of seven, graduated from Roosevelt High School and had been living with his mother and aunt in Waipahu before his death.

Kane was an avid fisherman, catching marlin, ahi, ono, mahimahi and wahoo, his brother said.

He followed in his father's footsteps, working in carpentry, and enjoyed riding his motorcycle.

“;He can build anything from the ground up,”; from the foundation to the fine detailed woodworking, said brother Rod, who benefited from his brother's skills and kindness.

Kane worked everywhere from Lanai to Connecticut.

But his passion was helping people fix their boats, Rod Kane said.

Lindsay Kane crewed for 95-year-old John Lind and helped repair his boat.

Kane and a group of younger men made it possible for Lind to go fishing when he could no longer manage to take the boat out on his own, son Ian Lind said.

Daughter Bonnie Stevens said, “;Of all the guys who fished with my dad, he was the one that came and visited regularly. Lindsay cared and Lindsay came and visited. Lindsay always brought fish to my parents.”;

Kane was so helpful to the older man that Lind decided to leave his boat to Kane when he died.