FOLLOWING THE FIRST PEDESTRIAN DEATH OF THE YEAR IN HAWAII KAI, REP. WARD APPEALS TO MAYOR CALDWELL

News Release from Rep Gene Ward, Jan 9, 2019

HONOLULU, HI – Representative Gene Ward (R-17 Hawaii Kai to Kalama Valley) sent a letter today, urging Mayor Caldwell and his administration to immediately reinstate a crosswalk that was mistakenly removed by the City & County last year.

"The crosswalk's removal has become a safety hazard for our residents, encouraging jaywalking on this very busy street in Hawaii Kai," wrote Representative Ward. "Just last night a man was hit by a car on this street, due to the lack of a crosswalk, he suffered injury to his head, body, legs and arms, then taken to the hospital in critical condition where he later died. Mr. Mayor, our constituents deserve better than this. Let's not allow bureaucratic red tape to get in the way of human life. Let's not allow government inefficiency to cause another preventable death. Therefore, I urge your administration to expedite its reinstatement."

Attached is a copy of Representative Gene Ward's Letter to Mayor Caldwell.

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PDF: Letter -- “I write you in urgency, sadly reporting the first pedestrian death of 2019, while asking your administration to repaint the crosswalk connecting the Oahu Club and the KCAA Preschool on Hawaii Kai Drive. Removed on May 9, the crosswalk was heavily used by residents and nears two bus stops. Over the past seven months, our constituents have been told that an EIS must be completed before its reinstatement, then that it would be no longer needed, and now that it will take two years for the crosswalk to comply with ADA regulation.”

KHON: “He wasn't in a crosswalk because there isn't one nearby. Residents said that's because the city removed it.”