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Elderly Man Killed On Kaukonahua Road

By Wayne Parsons

TV news reporter Andrew Pereira of KHON TV news reported the death of an elderly man Tuesday morning on the dangerous Kaukonahua Road between Waialua and Schofield Barracks. Twenty two motorists have died on Oahu roads this year and in an an earlier fatal incident on this same road, Brittany Durchuk, 27, of Ewa Beach lost control of her motorcycle and died.

Driving a 1991 GMC pickup, the 76 year old gentleman who lost his life crashed into a tree along Kaukonahua Road.

'At this time it is not known if he was wearing any seat restraints,' said Maj. Clay Kau of the Honolulu Police Department.

The police closed down the 2-lane road after the crash setting up roadblocks at Kamananui Road and Thompson Corner. According to the report in the Honolulu Advertiser the man was trapped in his vehicle:

The crash was reported about 11 a.m. in the S-curves area of the road, one of Oahu's deadliest. Several fire companies were called to the scene to help extricate the driver from a white pickup truck, police said.

The driver has been identified as Orrin Pollock, 76, of Waialua by the Medical Examiner.

According to the KHON report:

Kau says the unidentified driver was headed Waialua bound when he veered off the road near a Dole Company reservoir. It's not known if the man was wearing a seatbelt or if speed, alcohol or drugs played a role in the crash.

'Honolulu Fire Department and EMS personnel extricated the male from the truck (and) he was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision,' said Kau.

Kaukonahua Road is notorious for its winding and hilly path including several sharp turns. Motorists must be careful and not make any errors in attention or speed on this stretch of Highway. Considered one of the most deadly stretches of highway in the state, measures have been taken to keep motorists alert to the dangers. After a series of high profile fatalities nearly in past years, rumble strips were installed and no passing zones were paced at key locations.

'That's probably been a good thing,' said Gil Riviere, who chairs the North Shore Neighborhood Board's Traffic Committee. 'I think it helps the people who are trying to drive safely. I don't think it's helping the people who are driving fast and recklessly.'

Lowering the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph was opposed by the North Shore community, many of whom feared it would create congestion.

'The people going off the road are not anywhere close to the existing speed limit,' said Riviere, 'so lowering the speed limit is not going to have any effect on the reckless drivers.'

The majority fatal crashes on Kaukonahua Road have been single car collisions and community leaders like Riviere say many drivers simply ignore the speed limit. "I would say the road is safe if you drive safely.'

Concerns have been discussed for years as evidenced by a 2001 discussion at the Wahiawa Neighborhood Board:

Since last Board meeting, there have been six traffic fatalities on Kaukonahua Road or surrounding streets. All of the accidents involved speeding, except the most recent accident that may have involved alcohol. The Wahiawa District Police Station has stepped-up traffic enforcement on Kaukonahua Road. During the past nine days, they have issued over 200 citations. The increased enforcement has officers working overtime. This is a good program that will inform motorists to drive safely.

A statistic that no one wants to hear are traffic accidents and particularly fatalities. This was the 21st of 2009 compared to 13 at this time in 2008, a marked increase of tragedies, although there were 28 by April 7, 2007.

What do you think can be done to make Kaukonahua Road safer? Probably the only answer is for drivers to be cautious and drive in a prudent fashion. Speed is a major problem on Oahu roads. On a curving hilly road like this one that is all the more important.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Full post as published by Honolulu Personal Injury Lawyer on April 12, 2009 (boomark / email).