Moped rider who died in crash near UH-Manoa identified
BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM
A traffic accident Tuesday on Dole Street involving two mopeds resulted in the death of one of the riders.
A 22-year-old man who died Tuesday after a moped collision near the University of Hawaii at Manoa has been identified as Lee J.Y. How of Honolulu.
Police said another moped rider and How were traveling together on Dole Street toward East-West Road. The first moped rider overtook a van and stopped for a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk.
Police said the van also stopped for the pedestrian but How did not see what was happening and rear-ended the other moped.
Both moped riders were ejected. Paramedics took How to Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition where he later died.
The first moped rider suffered minor abrasions. Police said How was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.
An autopsy will be performed today to determine the exact cause of death.
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This is the 44th traffic-related fatality this year compared to 41 at the same time last year.
20 responses to “Moped rider who died in crash near UH-Manoa identified”
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Mopeds are cheap and fun but you have to pay attention or pay with body parts or worse….your life.
Mopeds are starting to find their way to Texas, too. With sometimes dire consequences. Whenever the media says “the rider was not wearing a helmet,” perhaps they could or should also state in clear terms that wearing a helmet for riders of mopeds is NOT illegal. Nor is it illegal for motorcycle riders. By saying the rider was NOT wearing a helmet, makes it sound as if the rider was in the wrong. The bigger picture that is being missed her is whether the moped(s) were modified to operate at a speed faster than legally allowed by Hawaii law. The rider who survived told KHON per my cousin that they were only traveling 25 – 30 mph. Okay. Sure. Sure you were only going that speed.
Why is driving 25 or 20 such a surprise? I have a moped and I drive at only 35 any faster scares me. I drive defensively I have my thumb on my horn ready to beep to all the drivers to do drive thru stops at intersections.
You go and criticize the writer about the helmet yet you call the riders a liar on their speed.
Maybe you need to find some peace in your life
Riders who don’t wear helmets ARE in the wrong. Perhaps it’s not illegal but it’s wrong because it’s totally stupid.
Wearing a helmet is just common sense. The article did not say it was “illegal” to ride without a helmet, although maybe it implied that it is stupid to do so. I personally do not believe in helmet laws. Riding without a helmet is just Darwinism, and with over 7 billion on the planet I don’t think society should interfere with Darwinism. Same thing with parents who don’t vaccinate their kids.
Wearing a helmet is just common sense. The article did not say it was “illegal” to ride without a helmet, although maybe it implied that it was $tupid to do so. I personally do not believe in helmet laws. Riding without a helmet is just Darwinism, and with over 7 billion on the planet I don’t think society should interfere with Darwinism. Same thing with parents who don’t vaccinate their kids.
The problem with parents who don’t vaccinate their kids is that it puts the population at large at risk. Just because you are vaccinated does no guarantee you will not contract the illness you are vaccinated for, but it helps reduce the chances of a group of individuals contracting the illness at the same time in the same location. This mitigation reduces the risk to those susceptible like those who are too young to have been vaccinated or have a condition that prevents vaccination. Not vaccinating creates a situation where there can be an outbreak and put others at risk. Not wearing a helmet is a choice that affects you and your family and perhaps the state if you can’t pay for your medical care if you are severely injured in an accident and require assistance to live. Not getting vaccinated puts others at risk. Not the same thing.
You are correct, sir or madame. Babies too young to be vaccinated, people with cancer or other health issues, are also at risk. I stand corrected.
KHON reported last night that HPD said that “speed was a factor”. Not sure if they meant to suggest that he was speeding or that at the speed limit he could not stop in time…
Reminds me of the (apocryphal) story about the old-time bicycle racer who showed up at the Wednesday evening ride wearing a helmet. After some ribbing, he opined “A helmet’s only designed to do one thing. Protect your brains. If you don’t have any, it don’t matter.”
Thats a dangerous crosswalk.
Why?
No traffic light. I want all crosswalks without a traffic light taken off the road. Painted lines seem to be an invitation for pedestrians to dare oncoming traffic to hit them. Either that, or scrap the concept of pedestrian right of way. A motorized vehicle is heavier and faster moving. Someone is begging Darwin’s Law to take effect stepping in front of oncoming traffic. If they themselves do not get hit, there is a good possibility of the car stopping for them to get rear ended.
Members of the UHM community who have been affected by this tragedy should go to the UHM Counseling Center: http://manoa.hawaii.edu/counseling/
Emergency walk-in appointments are available.
Condolences to the family and friends of Mr. How.
Thank you.
The article clearly states “The first moped rider overtook a van and stopped for a pedestrian….” so if that statement is correct, at least ONE of the mopeds was travelling at ZERO mph…i.e. STOPPED. It doesn’t matter how fast the pair were travelling earlier, a block down the street from the accident scene, or yesterday, or a week prior. What matters is how fast they were going at the time of the accident, and apparently at least one was stopped. BTW: Stock mopeds are engineered and designed to travel only 30 mph maximum, which partly allows them to qualify as mopeds and not motorcycles. Any mopeds that are capable of travelling faster than 30 mph have been illegally modified, as many are in Hawaii.
there needs to be a law for all moped/motorcycle riders to use a helmet.
who knows he could still be alive… sad
We don’t need a law requiring helmets. Everyone should have a right to choose whether or not to wear a helmet. if they make the wrong choice then oh well.
Exactly! With 7 billion people on this planet, we should allow a few inept to thin out the heard for us. Overpopulation fixes itself.
After observing the vehicle, motorcycle, moped, bicycle, and pedestrian behaviors in Hawaii, I have observed some reckless behaviors.
I have seen the reckless weaving in traffic of vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and pedestrians.
When any combination comes to a sudden stop, there has always been an accident. Vehicles will always come out on top of motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, and pedestrians.
Rear ending anyone, will have bad consequences.
Maybe, it is really time, to overhaul the motor vehicle, motorcycle, moped, bicycle, and pedestrian laws.
Before everyone questions wearing helmets, why not put universal laws in place, require testing, and require licensing?
Hawaii’s traffic density, loss of patience, and no knowledge about the consequences of weaving in traffic, has produced more problems.
There are even more apartment parking lot accidents happening, just based on which way your car is parked in a parking stall.