Friends and co-workers were devastated Tuesday over the loss of Aulani Halemano, a popular cook at Outback Steakhouse who was killed while crossing Farrington Highway in Nanakuli on her way to work.

"It’s hard to even think that she’s gone," said Nathan Meyer, another cook at Outback in Waipio, where Halemano worked off and on for the past 12 years. "She’s amazing. She touches everybody’s hearts."

Police said Halemano, 32, was crossing Farrington at Mohihi Street in a crosswalk when she was hit by a truck about 8:20 a.m.

She was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center West in extremely critical condition and died soon thereafter.

Police arrested the driver, a 22-year-old Waianae man, on suspicion of second-degree negligent homicide and of driving with a suspended license. He was released later Tuesday, pending investigation.

Some residents of Mohihi Street said Halemano was running across the street against a red light to catch the bus when she was hit.

It was the 36th traffic fatality on Oahu compared with 46 at this time last year. 

Police closed the westbound lanes of the highway just after 9:15 a.m. and reopened the road 90 minutes later.