An 81-year-old Honolulu woman died yesterday after she was hit by a sport utility vehicle as she crossed Pali Highway in a marked crosswalk.

She was identified as Hideno T. Matsumoto, according to the Department of the Medical Examiner. An autopsy will be performed today to determine the cause of death.

At 8:49 a.m. yesterday a dark blue 2004 Lexus operated by a 62-year-old Honolulu woman was traveling town-bound in the far left lane on the Pali when it hit the pedestrian. Matsumoto was in a marked crosswalk near Dowsett Avenue—one of three un-signaled crosswalks on Pali Highway between Waokanaka Street and Country Club Road. Police said speed was not a factor.

Matsumoto suffered severe head injuries and was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where she later died.

Police shut down the town-bound lanes on the highway for about two hours to investigate. The highway was reopened shortly after 11 a.m.

  Vehicles Hits Pedestrian On Pali

 

Elderly woman was killed while crossing Pali Highway near Dowsett Avenue.

[ Watch ]

 

Matsumoto's death is the third traffic-related fatality this year, compared with six at the same time last year.

Matsumoto is also the second pedestrian fatality on Oahu so far this year. On Jan. 7, Sachiko Kojima, 52, of Tokyo was crossing Kaiolu Street when a van driven by a Waikiki woman turned left from Kuhio Avenue and hit her. Kojima was taken to the hospital in critical condition and died the following day from head injuries. The manner of death was classified as an accident.

Seniors age 65 and over make up almost half of the pedestrians killed each year in Hawaii, according to Dan Galanis, state epidemiologist with the Department of Health's Injury Prevention and Control Program. Over the years, studies have consistently shown Hawaii to be the top or among the top states for senior-age pedestrian fatalities.

Jackie Boland, associate state director of AARP-Hawaii Chapter, said the state needs to find a way to accommodate the aging population on the streets. In the next 20 years the senior population in Hawaii is expected to double.