KAILUA-KONA — Police have identified a cyclist killed after being struck by a vehicle on Queen Kaahumanu Highway Thursday morning.
Hawaii Police say Roy Johnson, 73, of Texas, was riding on the north shoulder when he made a U-turn at mile marker 85 near Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. While attempting to make the turn, police say, the cyclist was struck by a 30-year-old Czech Republic man driving north in a silver Nissan Versa. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lt. Akira Edmoundson said the cyclist was riding with a group and he was the last to make the U-turn.
The highway was closed for several hours while police investigated the crash. It reopened about 10 a.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Tina Clothier, executive director for People’s Advocacy for Trails Hawaii, said she spoke to one of the riders from the group that morning. That cyclist confirmed to her that Johnson was unable to complete the U-turn. She was also told Johnson was a part-time resident and familiar with Hawaii County roads.
“The one time you’re not being hyper alert, something happens — and that’s true for all road users,” Clothier said. “We all need to be aware.”
PATH, a nonprofit group that hopes to connect people and places on the island with pathways and bikeways, teaches cycling safety. In that instruction, Clothier said, they teach about being aware of traffic at all times.
PATH also continues to address the number of fatalities in the state, specifically in Hawaii County. Clothier said they have joined forces with the Mayor’s Active Living Advisory Committee in hopes of educating more people on bike safety.
Last year, the county started sending out booklets with new bike and moped registration stickers that outlines principles of traffic law and rules of the road.
Maj. Robert Wagner said probably the top reason people get into accidents, not necessarily fatal, is inattention to driving.
“Driving drunk/on drugs is the No. 1 cause of fatal accidents; at times we can have 30 to 40 percent of our fatals connected to drunk drivers,” Wagner said.
To sum up the main reasons people die in crashes, Wagner said, would be distracted driving, not wearing a seatbelt, speeding and driving drunk.
“At times, there is really little that can be done in solving fatal accidents, such as the bike rider who turns into traffic, or the motorcycle rider who runs into a guardrail because he is not skilled yet in riding a motorcycle,” Wagner said. “Understand, giving a speeding ticket to someone does not stop them from speeding tomorrow, or a DUI arrest does not stop them from driving drunk again.”
Thursday’s crash makes this the fifth death this week on Hawaii Island roads and the 20th traffic fatality this year, the same as this time last year.
On Monday morning, Peter Veincent Jr. 48, of Hilo, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 130 in Keaau. Hours later, Gerald Wahinekapu, 45, of Kailua-Kona, died after being involved in a three-car crash on Highway 190 near mile marker 18.
Later Monday night, Mark Brown, 61, of Las Vegas, was a victim of a hit-and-run after he was reportedly rear-ended on Highway 11 near mile marker 88 while riding a motorcycle to Kona. The motorist involved in the crash is still being sought by Hawaii Police.