Woman dies in motorcycle crash on Pali Highway

One motorcyclist was killed and another seriously injured during a crash near the hairpin turn in the Honolulu-bound lanes of Pali Highway this afternoon.

Killed was a Kailua woman, 22, whom police believe is the wife of a Marine based at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. Seriously injured was an Aiea man, 23, also believed to be a Marine. The victims are not related.

The two motorcycles appeared to be among at least six heading townbound about 12:40 p.m. just past the St. Stephen’s Access Road.

The woman lost control of her 2009 Suzuki motorcycle just prior to the hairpin turn and hit the concrete median. After being thrown from her motorcycle, she was run over by the second motorcycle, a 2007 Suzuki.

The woman was treated at the scene and then taken to the Queen’s Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The man was treated and taken to Queen’s in serious condition with injuries to his collarbone, 

Police said they do not know if speed, drugs, or alcohol were factors. Both victims were wearing helmets.

The two were part of a group of motorcyclists traveling together, said Lt. David Nilsen of the Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division.

Officers on the scene were interviewing four other motorcyclists — three men and one woman. Nearly all wore jackets with the same logo on the back. 

Around the scene were six sports bikes, including the two damaged ones that Nilsen identified as those involved in the crash.

All town-bound lanes of the Pali were shut down on the Kailua side from Kamehameha Highway for about three hours, backing up traffic along both Kalanianaole and Kamehameha highways. 

The death was the 47th fatal recorded this year, compared to 44 at this date last year.