Site of pedestrian death known for its close calls

Michelle Mejia feared a pedestrian fatality would occur at a busy intersection on the mauka side of Ala Moana Center after observing many close calls over the years.

“That intersection is so damn bad,” said Mejia, site security supervisor at a commercial building at 1601 Kapiolani Blvd., near the intersection of Kona and Mahukona streets, where a 65-year-old Honolulu woman was fatally struck by a tour bus Thursday morning.

Mejia recalled telling a friend just recently, “Watch, one of these days something is going to happen. I hate to say it.”

Police said a 51-year-old tour bus driver was traveling east on Kona Street and turned onto Mahukona Street when the bus struck the woman in a crosswalk.

The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Her name has yet to be released by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

Police said the bus driver was unaware he had struck the woman until a person flagged him down.

The driver, who works for Travel Plaza Transportation, was on his way to pick up passengers at the Aqua Palms Waikiki at the time of the incident. The driver has worked for the company since 2011 and has no “prior incidents on his record,” the company said.

“He was shaken,” said Mejia, who saw the driver at the scene.

Police said excessive speed, alcohol and drugs were not factors. The investigation is ongoing.

This is the fifth traffic-related fatality on Oahu so far this year, compared with three at the same time last year.

According to Ala Moana Center spokeswoman Angela Behm, Mahukona Street is privately owned by General Growth Properties Inc., which owns the shopping center. Behm said they are unable to comment on safety concerns raised by people who work in the area due to the ongoing investigation.

For the past six years, Mejia, 40, who catches the city bus to work from Waipahu, said she has seen many close calls at the intersection. “There’s a lot of people driving really fast.”

In April 2007 a 25-year-old Aiea man suffered critical injuries after he was struck by a Nissan 240SX while walking toward Diamond Head in the Mahukona Street crosswalk. Police said the driver fled after the collision.

Mejia said a traffic light needs to be installed at the intersection for pedestrian safety.

Rachel De Leon, front desk employee at Ala Moana Dental Care, said she’s had close calls when crossing at the intersection.

Cars and tour buses do a “rolling stop” instead of a complete stop there, she said, adding many drivers are “not very conscientious of pedestrians.”