Bicyclist from Waianae dies after being struck by van on Farrington Highway
GOAKAMAI.ORG
A traffic accident this morning closed the eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway near Maili Point.
A 39-year-old bicyclist died after he was struck by a van traveling near Maili Point on Leeward Oahu early today.
His name has yet to be released by the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office pending notification of next of kin.
At about 5:14 a.m., a 52-year-old woman from Waianae was driving a 2000 Toyota van east on Farrington Highway near Kaukama Road when the vehicle collided into the man, also from Waianae, as he rode a bicycle, according to Honolulu police.
The bicyclist was crossing the highway diagonally at the time of the collision, police said.
He suffered extensive injuries. Paramedics treated him then took him in critical condition to Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, where he died.
Although police said it’s unknown at this time whether speed, alcohol or drugs are factors, Emergency Medical Services reported that the van was traveling at a “high rate of speed” at the time of the crash.
Marc Paaluhi, chairman of the Waianae Neighborhood Board, said speeding around the bend at Maili Point is a problem. “It’s very dangerous.”
He said he has observed motorists travel 45 to 60 mph on the eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway between Kaukama and Hakimo Roads, a roughly mile-long stretch where the posted speed limit is 35 mph.
Officers closed a section of the eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway to investigate during the morning rush hour. Police rerouted traffic onto Mailiilii Road and opened an emergency bypass at Lualualei Naval Road to ease congestion. Lanes were reopened before 9 a.m.
This is the fourth traffic-related fatality on Oahu so far this year compared with three at the same time last year.
25 responses to “Bicyclist from Waianae dies after being struck by van on Farrington Highway”
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Sad. May God Bless.
Condolences to his ohana.
Let me guess – the van driver was arrested?
Interesting to see if more facts come out. Rider wearing black. Bike had no lights. Rider had no helmet. Cyclists, please make yourself visible. Survive your ride.
agree – its not just a law to utilize lights on bicycles its a safety item – be visible.
“Emergency Medical Services said the van was traveling at a ‘high rate of speed.'”
So very tragic.
EMS should stick to saving lives. That’s what they’re good at. Leave the “high rate of speed” speculation to the police. That’s they’re job.
People familiar with the morning traffic in that area know that drivers routinely drive 50+ mph. It was certainly dark at that time of morning (5:14). The article reads, “The bicyclist was crossing the highway diagonally at the time of the collision, police said.” Well, you “chance ’em” often enough and bumbai you run out of (dumb) luck. ‘As why hard.
This is the “profile” of many west side bicyclists that I see riding out there …shorts/shirt/slippahs, sometimes a dog riding along in a basket. Sad to say but its the way things roll out there. Yes, agreed, cyclists need to be “seen” but as drivers, we need to slow down and be alert. Especially in an area out on the west side, where there are numerous bicyclists and pedestrians on a ever busy Farrington Hwy. Prayers to this person’s ohana, for their loss.
panini, yesterday a middle-aged guy on a moped made a U-turn from the curb lane in front of me. This was in Waianae on Farrington Hwy, while I was going 35mph on the inside lane. It was a close call, but it didn’t seem to bother the guy. Then he merges into eastbound traffic. I didn’t want to honk my horn, have him panic and make me his killer. It was noon, and weather was clear. What an i.d.i.o.t.
Everyday stuff ova deya. Everybody’s day will come
Don’t know if we will ever find out but I’m betting the guy was high as a kite. Homeless people ride right out in front of you especially on the Farrington. You just have to watch them very closely as you approach because they are unpredictable.
The Farrington is the highway of death. A total disgrace. The traffic is incredible and drivers get frustrated and speed and dart in and out changing lanes. Way too many pedestrian crossings, turns allowed from minor streets, etc.
The ongoing roadwork in Nanakuli might help some because that’s where the biggest bottlenecks occur but at the pace their working it seems like it will never get done.
The state could care less about the west side. You would think since Hanabusa is from there something would get done but they would rather spend the money on the rail project.
Meanwhile people will continue to die on the highway of death.
Doesn’t matter. The driver will always be blamed. Someone could be driving normally and have someone dart out of nowhere in front of them and the driver will be charged with something. Then we wonder why some people flee the scene.
agree..too many accidents like this.
My deepest ALOHA to his ohana.
Read another article of a 60-year-old moped rider being hit by a driver that drove off yesterday afternoon on Farrington Hwy. Come on people, where’s your ALOHA?
Truly tragic, but really you have to shut down the entire coastline, the only highway out of the wild wild West Side for like 3 hours? How many people was late for work? Oh wait good thing today was stay home from work and school protest day for all illegals!
That headline, bicyclist Dies in collision with Van? How’s about speeding van Runs over bicyclist. There are more people on bicycles next to a major highway in Leeward Oahu, but they make safe bicycle lanes on King St. Huh?
Agree with you. However, the mayor’s friend owns a bicycle store on King Street. Maybe barriers can be placed along the beach side of the road to keep vehicles and cars separated.
Happens all the time out here. Some bike riders think they own the road and expect you to stop when they are zig zagging across the road to get to the other side. Can’t say this is the case. It’s just that plenty homeless live across the road where the person lived and some of them think they own the place.
Sad, but the bicyclist was crossing the HIGHWAY, DIAGONALLY, at 5am in the morning. Not sure the driver is at fault.
I am not certain what happened in this incident, but I have ridden thousands of miles in my lifetime and over decades, and I observe most bicyclists break laws daily. Bicyclists ride the wrong direction, on the wrong side of a street, ignore stop signs, ignore red lights, blaze through on a crosswalk instead of walking their bike across, cut people off, weave through traffic, fail to signal, don’t have the proper set of reflectors or lights on their bike while riding in the dark; I can go on and on.
Bicycle safety is mostly on the rider, not those around them. If you are stupid, and dare I say–lazy if not lackadaisical about safe operation of a bicycle on a public road, then get off the road.
Exactly. I almost had a bicyclist as a hood ornament who was zipping in the crosswalk. He had the nerve to stop & voice his opinion that he was in the crosswalk. Told him I realized that but he is supposed to walk his bicycle in the crosswalk, not ride through it. Crosswalks are for pedestrians. If I had hit him, my insurance has to pay for his owee & stupidity? Don’t wish bad on him, but if he keeps it up he won’t see his next birthday.
Does this driver have a valid drivers license & auto insurance? If she doesn’t have a drivers license, auto insurance or both, she should get some jail time. A person who drives without a valid drivers license or auto insurance shouldn’t even be on the road & if she wasn’t on the road – no accident.
Well, they obviously need a lane set aside for a separated bike path. Actually, I really think that’s a poor solution and bicyclists and motoirsts need to be more careful and respect the road rules. We don’t know where and why the bicyclist was riding across the highway. If it wasn’t at an intersection, I have a question about who was negligent. Mr. Paaluhi is spouting off generally and not talking about this specific case, so I don’t think his comment is really germane to the story.