Separate accidents leave 1 dead, 1 hurt

Vehicles claimed one life yesterday and left a pedestrian in critical condition as Oahu's roadways remained dangerous ahead of the holidays.

A 70-year-old Waipahu man died when a truck driven by a 31-year-old man from Wahiawa apparently backed into him at Aloun Farms in Ewa at about midday. Police said the farm worker was killed on a dirt road near a cattle gate off Ka Uka Boulevard.

Police said the man suffered severe head injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at about 12:54 p.m., a spokesman for the city Department of Emergency Services said.

Not long afterward, on Hakimo Road in Waianae, a vehicle hit a pedestrian who was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Police closed the eastbound lanes of Farrington Highway and contraflowed a westbound lane until shortly before 5 p.m.

On Friday night, four teenagers were thrown from the bed of a pickup truck in a hit-and-run crash on Keeaumoku Street.

Police were able to stop the alleged hit-and-run driver, a 25-year-old Liliha man, and arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving, driving with a suspended license and failure to render aid.

The crash occurred about 10:20 p.m. when a 1998 GMC Sierra pickup crashed into the back of a 2001 Nissan Frontier that was making a right turn into the Keeaumoku Street McDonald's, police said.

Seven people were riding in the Nissan, including four in the back. Police said five people were taken to the hospital, including the four teens.