Motorcyclist critically injured in Waikapu collision

A motorcyclist suffered lifethreatening injuries in a collision with a pickup truck Sunday morning on Honoapiilani Highway in Waikapu, police said.

Three vehicles were involved in the collision at 5:31 a.m. on Honoapiilani Highway nearly a mile south of Olo Place.

Preliminary investigation showed the Yamaha motorcycle was speeding in the northbound direction when a Toyota Tundra pickup truck traveling south turned left to enter a private farm and collided with the motorcycle, police said. A Toyota Highlander traveling in the Wailuku direction behind the pickup truck drove through the debris field from the crash before the Highlander was stabilized, police said.

The motorcycle operator, a 48-year-old Wailuku man, was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition, police said. The Toyota pickup truck driver, a 37-year-old Wailuku man, and the Toyota Highlander driver, a 30-yearold Wailuku woman, both reported minor injuries and declined medical treatment.

Police said the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The drivers of the Toyota pickup truck and Toyota Highlander were both wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Based on information gathered during the preliminary investigation, traffic Investigators suspect the speed of the motorcycle was a contributing factor to the collision, police said.

Honoapiilani Highway was closed between Waiko Road and Kuihelani Highway for more than four hours while police investigated the scene.