AIEA, OAHU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
An elderly woman has
died after being struck by a garbage truck in Aiea Friday morning.
The incident happened around 8:50 a.m. on Kupuwao Place in Newtown Estates. The
driver of the City and County truck reversed into the woman who was standing
near the corner of Kupuwao Place and Kupukupu Street, according to first
responders. Neighbors said the area is common for senior citizens to take their
daily morning walks.
An ambulance rushed 83-year-old Pauline Ando to The Queens Medical Center in
extremely critical condition where she later died, EMS officials said.
The driver of the truck, who has worked for the City for 22 years, was
unharmed. He will receive help from an employee assistance program should
he need counseling.
The driver will also be put on paid administrative leave until the
investigation is complete.
Markus Owens, public information officer for the Department of Environmental
Services, said a check of the truck showed it operating normally, but it is not known if the truck made its standard beeping sound when backing up during the incident.
"He has equipment on there: Mirrors, cameras, everything,"
Owens said. "There are procedures in there to make it a safe
vehicle."
A negligent homicide investigation has been opened.
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