A late afternoon walk in Waipahu turned into a life-or-death emergency on Tuesday when a car jumped the curb and plowed into a pedestrian, critically injuring a 32-year-old man, authorities said. The 22-year-old driver behind the wheel was also hospitalized in what officials described as good condition.
What police say
According to the Honolulu Police Department, the crash happened at about 3:15 p.m. as the motorist was heading north on Mokuola Street. Investigators say the vehicle veered to the right side of the roadway, hit a tree, then continued onto the sidewalk where it struck the pedestrian.
HPD reported that the pedestrian was taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Speed, drugs and alcohol do not appear to be contributing factors at this point, and the case is being handled by the Traffic Division's Vehicular Homicide Section, which continues to investigate.
Rescue and hospital response
Emergency Medical Services crews found the pedestrian pinned under the vehicle and in need of extrication, officials said. The Honolulu Fire Department stabilized the car and used hydraulic rescue tools while EMS provided advanced life support treatment at the scene.
Both the 32-year-old pedestrian and the 22-year-old driver were later transported to nearby hospitals, officials told Hawaii News Now.
Initial coverage
News of the collision spread quickly through local media on Tuesday evening, landing among the first wave of breaking items for several outlets. As reported by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HPD traffic investigators processed the crash scene and kept the case open while they worked to piece together what went wrong on the normally routine stretch of roadway.
Investigation and safety context
Police say the investigation is still active and are asking anyone who may have seen the crash or its aftermath to contact the Traffic Division with information.
The incident comes as officials track a string of serious pedestrian collisions across Oʻahu this month. Recent traffic updates from the Honolulu Police Department have outlined multiple cases, highlighting ongoing safety and enforcement efforts by city and police leaders.
