Hawaii traffic fatalities higher at halfway mark compared to 2021

The 60 site visitors fatalities reported statewide within the first six months of 2022 surpassed the entire from the identical interval in 2021, when there have been 46 such deaths, in keeping with preliminary statistics from the state Division of Transportation.

Twenty-six of the 60 site visitors fatalities from Jan. 1 to June 30 concerned motorized vehicle occupants, 15 concerned bikes, mopeds or scooters, 14 concerned pedestrians and 5 concerned bicyclists, DOT mentioned.

The variety of pedestrian deaths within the first six months of the yr is 2 greater than in the identical interval of 2021, when there have been 12, and there have been 4 extra bicyclist fatalities than the one demise on the similar time final yr.

Nonetheless, the variety of fatalities involving bikes, mopeds and scooters was barely decrease for the primary six months of this yr in comparison with 17 on the similar time final yr.

In all of 2021, the state recorded 94 site visitors deaths.

DOT’s newest report additionally reveals that 9 of the 2022 site visitors fatalities statewide concerned homeless people, together with six pedestrians and three bicyclists.

Whereas Oahu’s 24 street deaths within the first half of 2022 had been two fewer than for a similar interval of 2021, the neighbor isles noticed will increase in site visitors fatalities. Hawaii County recorded 21 site visitors fatalities up to now this yr in comparison with 12 on the similar time final yr, in keeping with DOT. There have been 12 in Maui County in comparison with eight final yr, and Kauai County noticed three fatalities from January by way of June in comparison with none for a similar interval final yr.

Hawaii County and Maui County every tallied one bicycle-related fatality up to now this yr. Three, together with one involving an electrical bicycle, have occurred on Oahu.

Honolulu police mentioned Oahu’s twenty fourth site visitors fatality, the newest, concerned a automobile working over a 25-year-old man who was mendacity in the midst of Kalihi Avenue within the early morning hours of June 19. He was pronounced useless on the scene.

Maui police reported two pedestrian fatalities inside weeks of every one other.

On Might 26, a automobile touring west on Hana Freeway hit a pedestrian who was crossing the street at Hookele Avenue in Kahului. The person, later recognized as Jason Walsh, 51, was recognized to frequent the realm. Police had been knowledgeable on June 15 that Walsh died from his accidents at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Heart on Oahu.

On June 17, Ruben Kaaihue, 34, of Wailuku, suffered deadly accidents when he was struck twice by automobiles touring westbound on Kaahumanu Avenue.

Maui has since recorded its thirteenth site visitors fatality of 2022, with police reporting that Jeremy Caballero, 46, of Kihei, died Friday after shedding management of his 2012 Kawasaki motorbike whereas rushing eastbound on Kuikahi Drive in Wailuku and sliding into one other automobile. Caballero later died at Maui Memorial Medical Heart.

A crash Monday involving a motorcyclist added to Hawaii County’s 2022 site visitors toll. Police mentioned Malvin Reyes, 58, of Pepeekeo, suffered deadly accidents when his Hilo-bound motorbike crossed the middle line on Freeway 19 in Honomu, sideswiping two Waimea-bound automobiles earlier than hanging a 3rd automobile head-on.

Reyes was pronounced useless at Hilo Medical Heart.

Neither of the 2 motorcyclists killed had been sporting helmets, in keeping with police.