A tragic incident unfolded this Saturday when a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Kahului, Maui. According to a statement by the Maui Police Department, the victim, now identified as 71-year-old Mary Kanohokula of Kahului, was operating a personal electronic wheelchair when she was hit by a silver 2024 Lexus SUV, the police extended their deepest condolences to Ms. Kanohokula’s family and friends.
The collision occurred on July 13th at approximately 11:17 a.m. at the intersection of West Wakea Avenue and Onehee Avenue, near the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, where the vehicle, attempting a left turn, collided with the wheelchair-bound pedestrian who was in the midst of crossing northbound within the marked crosswalk. The driver of the Lexus, a 69-year-old Wailuku female, stayed at the collision scene as police arrived and reported no injuries herself, meanwhile the victim sustained critical injuries and was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center she later died from her injuries.
While the police's preliminary investigation has indicated that neither airbags deployed nor was speeding a contributing factor, the role of drugs or alcohol has not yet been ruled out as investigations continue into the factors leading up to this fatal event. The victim was wearing her seatbelt at the time of the incident, as noted in the report.
The death of Ms. Kanohokula marks the ninth traffic fatality in Maui County for the year 2022, a concerning rise from the seven fatalities reported at this time last year, showcasing an uptick in traffic-related deaths despite ongoing efforts to enhance road safety. Details about this incident remain under investigation and local authorities have yet to make a statement on any changes that might be implemented to avoid future tragedies of a similar nature.
