KEKAHA — A 44-year-old man was identified as the operator of a motorcycle who suffered fatal injuries in a crash on the Fourth of July.
KEKAHA — A 44-year-old man was identified as the operator of a motorcycle who suffered fatal injuries in a crash on the Fourth of July.
Reef Oana, of Hanamaulu, was riding a motorcycle eastbound on Kaumuali‘i Highway when he collided with a 2021 Dodge sport utility vehicle at approximately 6:30 p.m. on July 4, the Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) said.
The Dodge SUV, which had three occupants, was traveling westbound on the highway and was attempting to make a left turn onto Tartar Drive at the time of impact.
“The operator of the motorcycle, a 44-year-old male resident of Hanamaulu, suffered fatal injuries in the collision,” the KPD said. “Onf of the occupants of the SUV was treated at the scene by medics for nonlife-threatening injuries.”
The crash closed the highway in both directions for approximately two hours and 30 minutes, while the KPD’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
“Speed appears to be a suspected factor in the crash,” the KPD said.
This is Kaua‘i’s fifth traffic fatality of 2024.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call the KPD at 808-241-1616. People who wish to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kaua‘i at 808-246-8300.
Most fatal motorcycle accidents involve a car turning left into the path of the cyclist. Speed is not really a contributing factor. It is the inattention of the person driving the car that is the problem!