What a year it’s been–if you’ve been watching traffic fatalities in Maui County. They’re up, you know. Twenty-three, as of press time.
Last year there were 20 such deaths in the county. In 2010, there were just 11. No one seems to know why the roads seem to be getting a bit more dangerous each year. But they are.
Here’s a look back at those who died in the County of Maui because they or someone else was speeding, drinking or just being careless.
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Jan. 16
CAMILE ULANI COMBO, 57, Hana
She was the original Hawaiian Cultural Adviser for the Renaissance Wailea Resort and was the first woman to graduate as an Indigenous Architect from the UH Maui program. She wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when she was thrown from a Jeep that dropped off the side of Hana Highway.
Jan. 24
WAYAN DECOSTA, 21, Honokowai
He worked as a server at 5 Palms in Lahaina. He was heading down Honoapiilani Highway on a motorcycle–and not wearing a helmet–when he crashed into a parked car on the side of the road as he tried to pass a van.
Jan. 28
CODY IKAIKA MIYOSHI ENDO,
20, Makawao
He was a service technician at Goodyear. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when he was driving on Kekaulike Highway. His truck hit a guardrail, climbed an embankment and overturned.
Mar. 18
ABEL VENTURA, JR., 58, Wailuku
He was born in Kula and is survived by his son, mother, brother, sister and two grandchildren. Ventura was driving a motorcycle down South Kihei Road as part of a St. Patrick’s Day motorcycle rally when he crossed into the left lane and collided with two vehicles.
MARLENE DEBNAM, 56, Wailuku
She was the owner of West Maui Engraving and is a former president of Street Bikers United Hawaii’s Maui Chapter. She was also a leader of that group’s annual Toys for Tots drive. She was also not wearing a helmet in the same motorcycle incident as Ventura when they collided with a truck.
Mar. 25
REMINGTON TAYLOR REDWELL,
20, Lahaina
He was born in Los Angeles, then moved to Lahaina, Maui. He and four of his friends died in an Upcountry car crash. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
STEVEN R. SHAW, 20, Lahaina
Shaw was attending UH Maui College’s culinary school. He also wasn’t wearing seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
ANNASTACHIA CRUZ-KALUA,
19, Pukalani
She was an assistant manager at KM Polynesian Productions. In the crash, she was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
AMBROSE MOMOA, 20, Waiehu
He was born in Wailuku and was also a student at UHMC. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
KARL BARRACK, 20, Pukalani
He was born in Wailuku and worked as a farmer with his father. He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the car.
Apr. 8
KANA L. COX, JR., 53, Lahaina
Cox was a husband, father and grandfather. He died while riding his moped down Honoapiilani Highway. A truck failed to yield the right of way and Cox crashed into the truck. Cox was not wearing a helmet.
Apr. 20
JASON WILLIAMSON, 41, Kula
Williamson worked as a caretaker for the County of Maui Parks and Recreation Department. He is survived by his parents, wife and five children. He died while riding his motorcycle on Kula Highway and a Jeep turned left in front of him. He was wearing a helmet when the collision took place.
May 8
JEROME ARMSTRONG, 40, Lahaina
He worked as a master mechanic and was an avid surfer. He left behind a wife and son. Armstrong died when his motorcycle crashed into a van that was turning left and failed to yield him the right of way on Dairy Road in Kahului. He was wearing a helmet.
June 3
JOHN BOYD KRAUSE, 19, Hana
Krause was Kipahulu Ohana’s resource manager. His truck crashed into a utility pole and overturned. A passenger was injured, and Krause died. Neither was wearing a seatbelt.
June 24
CAMI NAEHU, 33, Kaunakaki
She worked at the Hotel Molokai bar and was popular among the locals. She was riding a motorcycle on Molokai and hit a tree. She was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Aug. 8
BOMANI KIM, 87, Wailuku
He opened Kim’s Building Construction and spent 25 years as an instructor at Maui Technical College. He was walking in a crosswalk in Wailuku when a commercial truck struck and killed him.
Aug. 17
BRANDY MENDES, 31, Waiehu
Mendes’ obituary said she worked on her family’s ranch. She was walking on Kaheliki Highway in Waiehu when she was struck by car, which fled the scene.
Aug. 30
ARLYN V. VISITACION, 39, Lahaina
Originally from the Philippines, she was a principal at J & A Enterprises in Lahaina. She was driving on Honoapiilani Highway near the Pali tunnel when a large pickup truck that had crossed over into oncoming traffic hit her car nearly head on. She was wearing a seatbelt and an airbag had deployed.
Sept. 16
GREGORY LEE KING, 56, Paia
He was walking on the Paia bypass road when a car struck and killed him. The driver, who initially fled the scene, later turned out to be a 73 year old Paia man, who was arrested.
Oct. 28
DEVON KING, 21, Auburn, WA
King was a UHMC culinary student. She was walking on the shoulder of Vevau Street in Kahului when she and another student were struck by a car. King was pronounced dead at Maui Memorial Medical Center a few hours later.
Nov. 25
CONNOR ELLIS, 12, Kula
He was a passenger in a pickup truck. The driver swerved on Pauwela Lighthouse Road to avoid a tire and rolled the truck, killing Ellis.
Dec. 5
MItchell Tuotte, 59, Vallejo
According to his Facebook page, Tuotte was originally from Vallejo, California and had recently graduated from UH Maui College’s business school He was struck by a car and killed while crossing Ka’ahumanu Avenue in Kahului.
Dec. 19
Blaze Kalilikane, 20, Lahaina
He had attended Lahainaluna, where he played a variety of sports. He was driving his small truck on Honapiilani Highway near the Olowalu landfill when he apparently tried to pass someone on the road and hit another truck head-on. He was apparently not wearing a seatbelt.
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