Maui police have identified the 73-year-old Molokai man who died from injuries Wednesday after he was struck by a riderless motorcycle on North Market Street at the Iao Bridge in Wailuku.
Charles Kaahanui of Kaunakakai was identified as the victim. He was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he died.
A 19-year-old Hoolehua woman, who had been driving the motorcycle and was thrown from it, was also taken to the medical center and was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the Maui County Police Department, shortly before 2 p.m. the motorcycle’s operator, headed east on Kahawai Street, lost control of the red-and-green Honda dirt bike. After failing to brake at the stop sign, she attempted to make a right turn onto Market Street.
The motorcycle crossed the street, jumped the curb and crashed into the bridge rail, police said. The operator was ejected from the bike and went over the railing and fell into the river below the bridge. The bike then continued to travel along Market Street and struck Kaahanui, who was walking on the sidewalk.
Police are investigating whether speed, drugs or alcohol were involved.
The incident is Maui County’s 10th traffic fatality in 2016, compared with 14 at this time last year.
Firework cited in Honolulu condo fire
A small fire in a Kapiolani-area condominium Wednesday night was caused by the accidental lighting of an aerial firework, according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. David Jenkins.
The smoldering fire was reported at 8:22 p.m. at the Holiday Terrace on Kanunu Street near the Don Quijote store.
When firefighters arrived, they found the smoldering remnants of a fire that was contained to a second-floor bedroom, Jenkins said.
Damage was estimated at $1,000.
The 50-year-old man in the condo suffered minor burns and refused transport to a hospital, the Fire Department and city Emergency Medical Services said.
Jenkins said the case has been referred to the Honolulu Police Department and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
