StarBulletin.com

Teen mo-ped driver dies in Manoa crash


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POSTED: Monday, January 25, 2010

A Honolulu teenager died after the mo-ped he was driving struck a station wagon at a five-way intersection in Manoa.

The 17-year-old male was riding next to another mo-ped in a separate lane heading mauka on Oahu Avenue and failed to stop at Lowrey Avenue at 10:05 p.m. Saturday, police said.

The station wagon stopped at a stop sign, then started a left turn from Lowrey Avenue onto Manoa Road and was struck on the side by the mo-ped driver.

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A teenager is dead and two others are left in critical condition in separate traffic accidents across O'ahu.

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; The 17-year-old flew off the mo-ped during the crash and was pronounced dead at the Queen's Medical Center. Police said speed involving the mo-ped driver was a factor. The driver was not wearing a helmet.

The other mo-ped driver avoided the collision. The 26-year-old male driver of the station wagon was not injured.

Traffic investigators were checking to see whether alcohol or drugs were involved.

Catherine Sato, who lives on Manoa Road, said community leaders had tried to install a traffic light at the intersection a few years ago because of the danger there. She said the plan died after a traffic study found putting a light at the five-way intersection would be too difficult.

“;We have so many schools over here, and people are rushing to get through that stop sign,”; she said, adding that some people think it is a four-way intersection.

“;They have to remember that it's a five-way intersection,”; she said. “;A lot of people get confused.”;

The death was the 10th fatality this year, compared with nine for the same period last year.