A spate of recent hit-and-run crashes have some asking: What’s happening on Oahu roads?
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - It’s not just police who are calling for drivers to slow down. Some drivers are also sounding off, saying lawlessness on Oahu roadways needs to stop.
The concern comes in the wake of a series of high-profile traffic incidents, including a hit-and-run crash that killed a 16-year-old walking to school.
Former Marine Anne Rodolfich said she was leaving the Hilton lagoon on Sunday night when a white Toyota nipped her car.
“My initial thought was, ‘Oh my God, we’re gonna die,’” said Rodolfich.
“All I saw was the headlights, and then like someone just speeding, we heard the tires just screeching at us.”
She said the driver then slammed into a pole and sped away with the bumper hanging off.
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Rodolfich followed him to the lagoon parking lot, making sure he wouldn’t flee. She said HPD arrived in 10 minutes.
The suspect is facing charges of DUI and fleeing in a vehicle.
Rodolfich said police told her the driver was involved in another hit-and-run about an hour before he scraped her car.
“Even the cops were saying that he could have killed someone. He could have killed us,” said Rodolfich.
“He could have killed himself, he could have hurt anyone, and to me, that’s terrifying.”
Liam Stone also says things need to change.
He was riding his moped down Wilder Avenue in Makiki when he was hit by a car Thursday evening.
He said he blacked out.
“It really bothers me that people can do that kind of stuff,” said Stone. “I could have been dead in the middle of the road and they just drove off.” Stone said he suffered a sprained jaw, back injury, cuts, and bruises and needed stitches on his chin.
He said witnesses told him it was a green SUV with a California license plate.
“We’ve also had lots of people on the Next Door app say that they’ve seen that car driving recklessly in this area recently, so we need to get them off the road,” said Stone.
Former HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy said the roads have become the wild, wild West.
“Just look at the attitude of the drivers, the way they run stop signs, they run red lights, the speeding, so you know our driving habits are getting worse,” he said.
McCarthy said the way to reduce hit-and-runs is to increase the consequences and enforcement.
“I’m afraid with the way the laws are going, we’re going to see more and more because there’s less consequence for people that do this,” said McCarthy.
Police said if you are involved in a hit-and-run, safety is the first priority. Don’t chase after the suspect but do try to get a good description of the driver and vehicle.
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