Traffic accidents kill 3; pedestrian is badly hurt

Hawaii’s roadways claimed three lives and left a pedestrian in critical condition over the weekend.

Excessive speed might have been a factor in an early morning crash Sunday that killed a moped driver in Makaha, police said.

The driver, a 33-year-old Waianae man, was traveling at a high rate of speed on Farrington Highway when he struck a pedestrian near Moua Street at about 1:10 a.m., police said.

The driver, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected from the moped and taken to a hospital, where he died.

The pedestrian, a 32-year-old man, was taken in critical condition to a hospital, police said.

It was the fourth traffic fatality on Oahu this year compared with 11 at this time last year.

On Maui a 37-year-old Paia man died and another man was injured Sunday in a single-vehicle crash near Maalaea, police said.

Police identified the victim as Ilya Romanovich Vinokur.

Police said Vinokur was driving a Nissan Frontier north on Honoapiilani Highway when he veered off the road at the intersection with North Kihei Road. Vinokur’s vehicle hit a curb and a traffic signal pole, then another curb and traffic signal pole.

He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.

The front-seat passenger, a 26-year-old Paia man, sustained minor injuries and was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Police said Vinokur was not wearing his seat belt and that the passenger was wearing his seat belt.

It was Maui’s fourth traffic fatality this year compared with none at this time last year.

On Kauai excessive speed is believed to be a factor in a crash that killed a 23-year-old Koloa woman Saturday, police said.

The crash occurred on Kaumualii Highway at about 3:20 p.m. near the entrance to Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor, police said.

A 25-year-old Kekaha man driving a Honda Civic crossed the centerline in an apparent attempt to avoid an oncoming sedan that had turned left in front of him.

The driver then lost control and crashed into an oncoming Ford Ranger pickup, police said.

The woman who died was a passenger in the Civic. The pickup driver, a 55-year-old Kekaha woman, sustained minor injuries and was released at the scene.

Police closed the highway for about 4-1/2 hours to investigate.

It was Kauai’s first traffic fatality this year.