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Visiting family
injured in crash
needs help

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By Mary Adamski
Star-Bulletin

A Japanese family injured in an Aug. 26 traffic accident now faces more than $120,000 in Hawaii medical bills.

The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii has organized an effort to help Shinji Nakagawa, 40, who was released from Queen's Medical Center this week.

His wife, Konomi, was killed when a vehicle crashed into the family of five as they waited at a Kamehameha Highway bus stop near Aloha Stadium.

Nakagawa and his 11-year-old son, Hiroto, were to meet with news reporters today. Nakagawa suffered leg and arm fractures and Hiroto, a fractured leg.

They will leave for Japan soon to join his daughters, Yuuki, 13 and Miki, 9, who were treated at Kapiolani Medical Center and were taken home by family members. They live in Gifu Prefecture near Nagoya.

Rika Ikeda, president of the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, said the nonprofit organization has set up an assistance fund after learning that the driver's insurance policy will cover a minimal amount.

The driver, a 68-year-old Waianae man, was hospitalized for a few days after the accident.

Police are conducting a negligent homicide investigation.

"We hope the generosity of our people will reawaken within the family the warm regard that brought them here," Ikeda said.

Contributions to the Shinji Nakagawa Assistance Fund may be made at any Bank of Hawaii branch.