Local News

Wailuku man dies in early Sunday morning crash

The Maui News

A 49-year-old Wailuku man sustained fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash on Maui Veterans Highway early Sunday morning, the Maui Police Department said.

The crash was reported at 4:47 a.m. on the highway north of Kamaaina Road in Kahului, police said. Officials believe speed is a factor in the crash.

According to a preliminary investigation, the operator of a 2005 Honda CB900 motorcycle was traveling south, Kihei-bound, on Maui Veterans Highway at a high rate of speed when operator crashed into the rear of a 2021 Nissan Rogue, also traveling south on the highway.

As a result of the collision, the Nissan spun uncontrollably as it crossed the grassy center median, police said. It then entered into the north-bound lanes and rolled over several times before coming to an uncontrolled stop in the middle of both north-bound lanes of the highway.

Police said the male operator of the Honda motorcycle sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim's identity is currently being withheld for 24 hours to allow his family an opportunity to notify their extended family and friends.

The operator of the Nissan, a 30-year-old Kahului woman, sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center for additional treatment.

Police said the motorcycle operator was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The Nissan operator was properly wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash and the vehicle's airbags did deploy, according to police.

The involvement of alcohol/drugs is pending and final determination will be made by MPD Vehicular Homicide Investigators via a toxicology report, according to the news release.

This was Maui County's fifth traffic fatality this year, compared to one at the same time last year.

To date, Maui County has a 400 percent increase in fatal motor vehicle crashes compared to this time last year, according to the police department.