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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 29, 2008

ACCIDENT
Two women in Ma'ili crosswalk struck by motorcycle

Video: Motorcycle crash injures three in Waianae

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Police closed Farrington Highway's west-bound lanes yesterday to investigate an accident involving a motorcycle and two pedestrians at Ma'ili'ili Road. See a video report at honoluluadvertiser.com.

RICHARD AMBO | The Honolulu Advertiser

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A motorcyclist apparently ran a red light on Farrington Highway in Ma'ili yesterday morning and struck two women in a crosswalk, sending all three to The Queen's Medical Center, police said.

The women were past the midway point of the crosswalk at Ma'ili'ili Road and Farrington Highway when they were hit by the motorcycle, said Lt. Darren Izumo of the police vehicular homicide unit.

"They almost made it across," Izumo said.

The accident happened just before 7:40 a.m., Izumo said.

The younger of two women, who is about 23 years old, was thrown about 15 feet upon impact, said Bryan Cheplic, spokesman for the city Emergency Medical Services department.

She was taken to Queen's in critical condition, Cheplic said.

The other woman, who is believed to be about 67, was taken to Queen's in serious condition but her condition worsened to critical at the hospital, Cheplic said.

The motorcyclist, described as a man in his mid- to late 20s, was taken to Queen's in serious condition, Cheplic said.

Both west-bound lanes of Farrington Highway were closed while police investigated.

The motorcycle rider was traveling in the lane closest to the center of the highway when a witness who was stopped at the intersection said the motorcycle ran the red light, Izumo said.

"We have a good witness who said he definitely ran the red," Izumo said.

Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, Izumo said. But, Izumo said, "it appears he was going a little bit faster than 35, which is the speed limit."

Lots of people use crosswalks along Farrington Highway to get to and from the beach, Izumo said, and the stretch of highway is filled with makeshift memorials to previous accidents.

"Along this stretch there's a lot of them," Izumo said. "Sometimes it's their fault, sometimes it's the driver's fault.

"If you're a pedestrian, you can't assume the driver sees you," Izumo said. "If you're the driver, you can't assume the pedestrian sees you."

Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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