Waiehu man succumbs to injuries sustained in head-on vehicle crash

A 53-year-old Waiehu man succumbed to his critical life-threatening injuries Saturday afternoon after being ejected from his moped onto the roadway following a head-on collision with a car on Friday night in Wailuku.

Around 10:57 p.m. on Friday, a motor vehicle collision occurred on Waiehu Beach Road at Eha Street when a silver 2020 Honda sedan was traveling west on Waiehu Beach Road, executed a left turn onto Eha Street, and collided head-on with Manibog while he was operating the moped that was traveling east on Waiehu Beach Road, according to a preliminary investigation by MPD.

As a result of this collision, the operator of the moped was ejected onto the roadway and sustained critical life-threatening injuries, MPD said.

The operator of the sedan, a 19-year-old Lahaina male, immediately stopped after the collision and remained on-scene to render first aid.

Manibog was transported to MMMC, where he later died from his injuries, MPD said.

The operator of the Honda sedan was subsequently placed under arrest for Negligent Injury in the First Degree, Operating a Vehicle While Under the Influence of an intoxicant, Prohibitions Involving Minors, Consuming or Possessing Intoxicating Liquor While Operating a Vehicle, and was later released pending investigation.

Waiehu Beach Road closed from Ukali Street until Eha Street due to the vehicle accident from about 11:40 p.m. Friday to about 2 a.m. Saturday.

Investigation reveals that the involvement of alcohol is suspected in this collision. The involvement of speed and drugs has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

Manibog was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The sedan airbags didn’t deploy, according to MPD.

At this time, it is not known if the operator of the sedan was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision.

This is Maui County’s first traffic fatality of 2023, compared to four at the same time last year.