Pali crash flips
biker over cliffThe highway closes for hours
as the injured man is saved
Firefighters rescued a motorcyclist who was critically injured today when he was thrown off his bike over the side of the Pali Highway and landed in a ravine about 100 feet below.
Police closed the Kailua-bound lanes of the Pali at the upper end of Nuuanu-Pali Drive for about three-and-a-half hours while firefighters rappelled off the highway to rescue the man and police investigated the crash.
The accident happened about 4 a.m. just outside the tunnels on the Kailua side of the highway.
When firefighters arrived they found the man's motorcycle but no rider, said Fire Capt. Richard Bulacan.
Police said the rider, a 40-year-old Honolulu man, was speeding when he came out of the tunnel and couldn't handle a curve in the road. He was not wearing a helmet.
Fire rescue specialist used a basket to lift the victim back to the highway.
Capt. Emmit Kane, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said the man was conscious and indicated he had a passenger and then later said he didn't.
Firefighters and police searched the area and determined there was no passenger.
Fire rescue specialist called off their search about 6:07 a.m.