COURTESY OF THE YANG FAMILY Traffic fatality victim Guo Xuan Yang, front left, is shown here with, in back row, daughters Cindy and Wendy Yang, and wife Yan Chang Wu; and friend Sai Kung Seu, in front. CLICK FOR LARGE

Pedestrian dies after being hit in Kapolei

Guo Xuan Yang, 59, leaves behind a wife and two daughters

Meatcutter Guo Xuan Yang was crossing the street before dawn yesterday on his way to work in an industrial area of Kapolei when he was struck by a car.

The 59-year-old Honolulu man died in the afternoon from injuries sustained in that collision, leaving behind a wife and two daughters, 15 and 9.

Yang's widow, Yan Chang Wu, sobbed by the kitchen table last night as dozens of friends and relatives packed their tiny one-room apartment in Palama to pay their respects.

Their father cooked dinner for them every night, while their mom bused tables at a Kaimuki restaurant. "He was a very caring dad," she said.

Yang is the sixth Oahu pedestrian killed by a motor vehicle so far this year, which is all but 6 weeks old, and the ninth traffic fatality.

According to police, the 30-year-old Waianae driver of a blue 1996 Chevrolet Corsica was heading north on Kalaeloa Boulevard when he swerved from the right lane into the left to avoid a group of pedestrians crossing at the intersection of Lauwiliwili Street.

Yang was one of several pedestrians who got off the bus and started crossing Kalaeloa in the west-to-east direction, police said.

Police said speed might have been a factor in the crash.

The area lacks a marked crosswalk and lighting, said Sgt. John Agno, of the Vehicular Homicide Section.

But relatives said they heard from Yang's employer, who told them other employees witnessed the accident and reported seeing the driver speed up to scare the pedestrians.

The accident occurred at about 6:12 a.m. Yang was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition with head and multiple bodily injuries, police said. He died at 2:14 p.m., the Medical Examiner's Office said.

Yang, who emigrated to Hawaii 24 years ago from Canton, China, had worked at Palama Meat Co. for about as many years, said niece Chang Ying Yang.

The family shared one car, and Guo Xuan Yang caught the bus to work every day.

Neighbor Priscila Baja Moreno was shocked and saddened to learn of his death and went to console his widow, giving her a long hug.

"He's a nice man," she said. "He's very friendly."

Even though he did not speak much English, he would always try to strike up a conversation and ask where she was going, Moreno said.

Just last month, Moreno mourned the loss of fellow churchgoer Fe Bulahan, 81, who was struck as she was completing her crossing of North King Street.

Moreno said Yang had told her they were looking to find a bigger apartment since the girls had grown.

Now, relatives said they worry about how the family will survive on one income and without the medical coverage Yang received from his employer.