HAWAIʻI, HAWAIʻI (KHON2) — This morning, traffic safety vigils across Hawaiʻi Island helped raise awareness about the effects of dangerous driving.
The “Healing Our Highways” Traffic Safety Vigil and Remembrance Event honored all those who have lost their lives on the road this year with hopes of preventing any more deaths in the upcoming holiday season.
19 lives have been lost in a traffic fatality on Hawaiʻi Island and 111 in total across the state this year.
This event followed last week’s head-on crash in Kona on Daniel K. Inouye Hwy. that killed a three-week-old infant and a woman.
Police determined that alcohol did play a role in the fatal crash, and the suspect was booked for DUI, negligent homicide and driving without a license.
“This vigil was planned weeks before yesterday’s tragic car crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway,” said Torey D. Keltner, program manager for the department’s Traffic Services Section.
Members of the community were seen waving signs along Waikoloa Rd, Kīholo Bay Scenic Point Lookout and Hualālai near the Four Seasons, throughout the morning to spread their message.
Keynote speakers, Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna and members of the Hawai‘i chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, spoke at the West Hawai‘i Civic Center in Kailua-Kona during today’s events.
“The pain of losing a loved one in a traffic crash never truly fades,” said Interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna. “Every number in our traffic fatality reports represents a person, a father, mother, son, or daughter whose absence leaves an immeasurable void. This event is a call to our entire community to drive with aloha, responsibility, and awareness so that more families do not have to endure such devastating loss.”
Choosing to speed, drive under the influence, or be distracted behind the wheel could mean life or death for you and anyone else on the road.
Hawaiʻi Police Department wants to urge everyone to drive carefully and remind the community that ‘traffic safety is a shared kuleana.’