A 14-year-old student from Campbell High School has died following an electric motorbike crash in Ewa Beach, prompting calls for road safety and caution amongst the community. The Honolulu Police Departmentreported that the teen was riding northbound in a marked crosswalk when he was struck by an eastbound vehicle on Kolowaka Drive, as he went against a "do not walk" signal. Following the incident, fellow students and officials are voicing out for heightened safety measures, according to KITV.
Amid the tragedy, emotional responses from Campbell High School students have surfaced. Gabriel Ross, a senior at the school, stressed the mutual responsibility for safety, stating, "If you're driving, look out for the people on the bikes," in an interview obtained by KITV. Meanwhile, deeply affected by the crash, Campbell student Grace Carama recounted her reaction to Hawaii News Now, "It was truly unfortunate. I got the news in my third period class and it was actually heartbreaking."
Interim Chief of Police Rade Vanic highlighted the shininess of police officers in their responsibility to ensure compliance with traffic laws, stating, "We have responsibility as police officers to make sure that people are driving the speed limit, and people are out there wearing seatbelts, following traffic rules and I'm asking you to drive with aloha," as he spoke with KITV. In response to the accident, Oahu recorded its 54th traffic fatality of the year, a sharp increase from the previous year's count at this time. John Henry Lee, the principal of Campbell High School, offered a statement expressing grief and made support available to students and staff needing assistance to deal with the aftermath.
Given the recent spike in traffic fatalities, Honolulu officials and community members urge for improvement in traffic safety and adherence to newly implemented regulations. Bill 52, enacted earlier this year, established safety guidelines including helmet requirements and limitations on e-bike power. Despite these efforts, many young riders, influenced by finances or comfort, still opt out of wearing helmets, like Dino Dela-Cruz, a Campbell student, who told Hawaii News Now, "I choose not to wear one because I don’t really have the money for it, besides it’s easier to see around when I don’t have one." Council member Augie Tulba expressed his heartbreak over the incident and urged both the community and parents to take a more proactive role in ensuring the safety of young riders.
