The eighth traffic-related fatality and the third pedestrian killed at night this year on Maui’s roads took place on Friday, marking the third person killed in collisions in just two days.

Maui police are investigating the death of a 28-year-old man who died Friday night after a car struck him while he was crossing Kahului Beach Road about a quarter mile northwest of Kaahumanu Avenue in Kahului. Police have identified the man as Tory Nabu of Kahului.

According to police, the collision happened at about 8:46 p.m. Friday when a 2017 Ford Fusion traveling north in the Wailuku-bound lane struck Nabu as he was crossing the road from the ocean toward the Harbor Lights Condominiums.

Nabu sustained critical injuries and was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to injuries. Police said the driver of the Fusion was not injured.

Nabu’s death marked Maui’s eighth traffic-related fatality this year. On Thursday, a 1-year-old boy and a 43-year-old man died in separate incidents.

According to police, at approximately 9:42 p.m. Thursday, the driver of a 2016 Nissan Altima was pulling into the driveway of a home on Poheoheo Street in Kahului when the car struck the 1-year-old boy from Makawao on the sidewalk in front of the residence.

Police said the boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the Nissan was not

hurt.

In an unrelated collision on the same day, 43-year-old Julius Ponce of Kahului died in a wreck on the Honoapiilani Highway in Waikapu.

According to police, Ponce was driving a 1988 Toyota pickup when he came upon a 2022 Ford Explorer stopped on the highway waiting to make a left turn on a farm road about half a mile north of Alohi Ui Street.

The pickup hit the Explorer from behind just after 4 p.m. The man suffered critical injuries and was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

A pedestrian fatality also took place earlier this year on Feb. 4 when a pickup truck struck 48-year-old Brian Sponberg of Kihei.

Police said Sponberg was walking north within the northbound lane on South Kihei Road at 8:36 p.m. when he was struck by a vehicle traveling in the same direction.

A 47-year-old Kihei man was arrested on allegations he was driving a pick-up truck that hit and killed a pedestrian before leaving the scene.

At this time last year, Maui County had recorded four traffic-related fatalities. Police are advising drivers to use heightened awareness when driving at night, slow down in residential areas and use high beams responsibly to improve visibility.