Kapolei woman, 70, killed while crossing the street

A 70-year-old pedestrian died Friday after she was struck by a pickup truck in Kapo­lei.

Guillerma Balanza was crossing Kama­aha Avenue in a marked crosswalk shortly after 5 a.m. when she was struck by a 2004 Ford pickup truck traveling northbound near the intersection of Keku­li­lani Loop. Police said the Kapo­lei woman suffered massive head and internal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver, a 56-year-old Kapo­lei man, was not injured.

Police said alcohol does not appear to be a factor, and they do not know whether speeding played a part in the incident.

Residents of the quiet neighborhood near Kapo­lei Middle School said motorists regularly travel faster than the 25 mph posted speed limit on Kama­aha Avenue.

"It’s been getting worse," said Karen Coyle, 58, who has lived in the area for 21 years.

Koyle regularly catches the bus near the intersection where Balanza was killed. She said she’s had a couple of close calls herself while walking in the Kama­aha Avenue crosswalk at night.

Evelyn Souza, chairwoman of the Maka­kilo/ Kapo­lei/Hono­kai Hale Neighborhood Board, visited the area Friday morning, after the accident.

She said Kama­aha Avenue is typically busy at 5 a.m. on weekdays, with residents driving to work.

The neighborhood board plans to discuss the accident and traffic conditions at its meeting this month.

The incident marks the 18th traffic-related fatality on Oahu this year, compared with 23 at the same time last year.

Balanza’s death is the ninth pedestrian fatality on the island in 2015, compared with 11 at the same time last year.