Unfortunately, it appears that traffic in Oahu is much more dangerous this year compared with 2013. As of March 16, 15 people had been killed in car accidents on the island this year, compared with 17 for all of last year.
In the most recent incident, a man was killed after his car was hit head-on by a vehicle that failed to maintain its lane. A third vehicle was also involved, and a total of five survivors were injured.
The accident happened on Farrington Highway on the afternoon of Mar 16. The victim was driving east, as a vehicle driven by a man in his 40s was headed west. The westbound vehicle crossed the center stripes and crashed into the victim’s car.
The car spun into the westbound side of the road, where it was hit by a Jeep. The driver, a 39-year-old man, died at the scene.
Four people were taken to nearby hospitals. They include a woman and a 3-year-old boy who were taken to a trauma center, and a woman and man who were taken to another facility. All were listed in stable condition as of March 16. A fifth person declined to be taken to the hospital.
The driver who went into the eastbound side of the highway was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide. The alleged reason for his driving into oncoming traffic is not given by the Honolulu Star Advertiser. The crash happened on the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, which makes one wonder if alcohol could have been a factor.
There are many ways a driver can take the lives of others through negligence. Unfortunately, often there is nothing we can do about it until it is too late. Once it is over, some may find closure in pursuing a wrongful death claim against the driver.
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, “1 dead, 5 hurt in car pileup in Nankuli,” March 16, 2014