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Kula man dies in motorcycle crash

A 2012 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle rests along Haleakala Highway after an accident that killed a 40-year-old Kula man on Sunday afternoon. MPD photo

A 40-year-old Kula man died when he was thrown from his motorcycle Sunday afternoon on Haleakala Highway in Kula, police said.

He was identified as Shane Smith-Shoemaker.

The crash occurred at 5:14 p.m. on the highway 0.8 mile north of Lower Kimo Drive.

Preliminary investigation showed Smith-Shoemaker was operating a 2012 Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle that was heading downhill when he crossed left of center into southbound lanes and lost control of his motorcycle, police said. The motorcycle and operator “slid uncontrollably northbound within the southbound lane of travel” until hitting the guardrail on the western shoulder, police said.

Smith-Shoemaker died at the crash scene, police said.

Police said he was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.

The roadway was wet from recent rain, police said. Speed is suspected as a factor in the crash, according to police.

The traffic death was the second this year on Maui County roads, compared with three at the same time last year.

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