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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
In this photo taken Tuesday, Christy Cowser, left, and Merlita Compton, hold signs on North King Street during a rally sponsored by Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the city Department of Transportation Services and the state Department of Transportation to promote pedestrian safety.
Two pedestrians died and a bicyclist was critically injured in separate traffic accidents overnight.
Police arrested two men in connection with the accidents and are searching for a third driver, who fled the scene.
An 89-year-old woman died Thursday morning at a hospital from injuries she suffered in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident on South Beretania street in front of the Shinshu Kyotai Mission in Pawaa at 5:25 p.m. Wednesday, police said.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as Miyako Hashimoto.
Paramedics took the woman, who was not in a cross walk when she was struck, to the hospital in serious condition.
The motorcyclist fell off the bike, then got back on and fled makai on Punahou Street, said Lt. Carlene Lau, a Traffic Division spokeswoman.
At about 9:50 p.m. Wednesday, a sports utility vehicle struck a 38-year-old homeless man crossing Kalihi Street near Manaiki Place in Kalihi Valley.
Police said the victim was caught under the black Envoy SUV, driven by a 24-year-old man, and dragged several yards. The vehicle stopped at Nalanieha Street. Officers arrested the 24-year-old driver on suspicion of third-degree negligent homicide.
The 38-year-old pedestrian suffered injuries to his head and body and died at the scene, police said.
Speed and alcohol may be factors in an early morning crash Thursday on Ward Avenue that sent a bicyclist to the hospital in extremely critical condition, Lau said.
A Honda sedan hit a 62-year-old man riding his bike near Ward Avenue and Lunalilo Street at 2:46 a.m., police said..
Police said the bicyclist was traveling makai on Ward Avenue and was turning left into Lunalilo Street in a marked crosswalk when he was hit by a Honda sedan, driven by a 26-year-old man. Witness said the driver of the Honda was traveling Ewa on Lunalilo street and turning right to Ward Avenue. However, the Honda driver only slowed for the red light, but didn’t come to a complete stop before making the right turn, Lau said.
The bicyclist also crossed when the “do not walk” sign was flashing, Lau said.
Police arrested the 26-year-old driver at the scene on suspicion of drunken driving.
Police closed Ward Avenue in both directions until about 5 a.m., while Traffic Division officers investigated the accident.
The fatalities come during Hawaii’s Pedestrian Safety Month and after a series of pedestrian deaths this year.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie launched the third annual Pedestrian Safety Month with a proclamation ceremony on Aug. 6.
This week, Mayor Kirk Caldwell launched a pedestrian safety campaign in Kalihi near the site of three pedestrian deaths earlier this year.
