Last year was a much deadlier one on Big Island roads than 2020, when coronavirus-related lockdowns resulted in shuttered drinking establishments and fewer drivers on the roads.
There were 26 official traffic fatalities in 2021, 11 more than the 15 recorded in 2020, an increase of 73.3%. Perhaps a fairer comparison was 2019, the last nonpandemic year, when there were 25 fatalities recorded.
None of the fatal crashes in any of the past three years resulted in multiple fatalities. That’s in contrast to 2018, when there were 30 fatal crashes, with two recording double fatalities, for a total of 32 traffic deaths.
Torey Keltner, Traffic Services Section program manager for the Hawaii Police Department, said the majority of traffic crashes occur in areas where there are “higher volumes of traffic.”
“It is important to remind people that the roadways are engineered for vehicles to travel at identified speeds,” Keltner said. “People must understand that speeding does not allow you as much time to react to the environment or other drivers. What would be an easy thing to avoid when traveling at the identified speed in an area may truly be dangerous when speeding.”
According to Keltner, eight of those killed were motorcyclists. That represents 31% of the fatalities, a significant increase over the prior three years.
In 2020, three motorcyclists were killed in collisions, 20% of the year’s 15 fatalities. In 2019, there were six motorcyclists killed on the island’s roads, accounting for 24% of the 25 traffic deaths. And in 2018, there were seven motorcyclists who died in traffic crashes, 23% of the 30 who died in Big Island collisions.
Keltner said that even with helmets and other safety gear, motorcyclists have less protection than other motorists.
“When operating a motorcycle, riders are certainly at a higher risk of being injured when they are involved in a crash,” he said. “Cars and trucks provide additional safety features to help keep the occupants from being seriously injured or killed.”
In 2021, there were 1,081 DUI arrests compared to 1,001 in 2020, an increase of 8%. According to police, driver impairment was a factor in 21 fatalities in 2021 — 81% of the fatal crashes.
Of those, one involved alcohol only, 10 involved drugs only, and 10 involved both alcohol and drugs.
“I would like to remind people to drive with aloha and plan ahead if they have consumed anything that prevents them from driving the safest way possible,” Keltner said. “There is no excuse to drive fast or impaired. The results can be devastating for many people — not just the ones in the vehicles.”
The numbers of DUI arrests by district in 2021 were: Kona, 421; South Hilo, 290; Puna, 183; South Kohala, 127; North Kohala, 34; Hamakua, 15; Ka‘u, eight; and North Hilo, three.
There were 223 drivers arrested for DUI who were involved in traffic accidents in 2021, compared to 176 in 2020, an increase of 26.7%.
There were 56 drivers under the legal drinking age of 21 arrested for DUI in 2021, compared to 57 in 2020, a decrease of 1.8%.
For the year 2021, there were 817 major accidents — defined as accidents in which the estimated damage is $3,000 or more — compared to 770 in 2020, an increase of 6.1%.
Here is a list of those who lost their lives in traffic collisions in 2021, according to the Hawaii Police Department:
1. Richard Valdez, 55, of Granite Bay, Calif., Makuu Drive and 2nd Avenue, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Jan. 9.
2. Ryan Starett, 32, of Keaau, Makuu Drive and 24th Avenue, Hawaiian Paradise Park, Jan. 15. (motorcyclist)
3. Timothy N. Shepherd, 67, of Waimea, Highway 19 and Honomu Road, Honomu, Jan. 31. (motorcyclist)
4. Aaron L. Sombrio, 54, of Mountain View, Kahikopele Street, Mountain View, Feb. 3. (pedestrian)
5. Cornell Bruce Linerud, 84, of Kailua-Kona, Kamanu and Olowalu streets, Kailua-Kona, Feb. 3.
6. Erika Fredrika Neilson, 19, of Kailua-Kona, 3-mile marker, Ke Ala O Keawe Road, Captain Cook, March 19.
7. Franklin Dacanay, 75, of Hilo, Ainaola Drive and Mikokoi Street, Hilo, March 23.
8. Ray Allen Riveira Sr., 60, of Keaau, 0.3 miles west of 68.5 mile marker, Ka‘u, April 10. (motorcyclist)
9. Megan Valerie Myers, 37, of Kailua-Kona, near 86-mile marker Highway 19, North Kona, May 11.
10. Brian Kamaka Moa, 52, of Washington state, 0.1 mile south of 88-mile marker Highway 11, South Kona, May 15.
11. Alona Taetuna-Kaluau, 18, of Ocean View, near 95-mile marker Highway 11, South Kona, May 21.
12. Fawn K. Jost, 49, of Pahoa, Government Beach Road near Papaya Farms Road, Puna, June 14. (moped)
13. Helen Napeahi, 69, of Hilo, Kalanianaole Avenue and Kolea Street, Hilo, July 7.
14. Valentine Gines Jr., 34, of Paauilo, near 49-mile marker, Highway 19, Honokaa, Aug. 17.
15. Arif L. McCluer, 36, of Pahoa, between 4- and 5-mile markers, Highway 132, Puna, Aug. 24. (motorcyclist)
16. Robert Lively, 25, Highway 130 and Kaluahine Street, Pahoa, Sept. 4.
17. Derrick Lee Huddy, 59, of Naalehu, Kaaliki Road near Makino Junction, Naalehu, Sept. 24. (utility vehicle)
18. Kalamaokalani Keith Kelekolio-Crivello, 29, of Kailua-Kona, 4-mile marker of Puu Honua Road, Napoopoo, Sept. 25. (motorcyclist)
19. Isaac Gideon, 22, of Kailua-Kona, 4-mile marker of Puu Honua Road, Napoopoo, Oct. 7.
20. Oren Mark Wilson, 63, of Waikoloa, Daniel K. Inouye Highway and Highway 190, Waikoloa, Oct. 10. (motorcyclist)
21. Willian Townsend, 39, of Hilo, Saddle Road and Kaumana Drive, Hilo, Oct. 18. (motorcyclist)
22. Tyson Garcia, 44, of Puna between 31- and 32-mile markers, Daniel K. Inouye Highway, Oct. 27. (motorcyclist)
23. Kevin Kaimipono Gladden, 22, of Captain Cook, Highway 11 and Napoopoo Road, Napoopoo, Nov. 13.
24. William Joseph Rowan, 57, of Captain Cook, Highway 11, 0.2 miles south of 108-mile marker, South Kona, Nov. 18.
25. Augustina James, 13, of Waikoloa, Kamakoo Drive and Iwikuamoo Drive, Waikoloa, Nov. 18. (pedestrian)
26. Patrick G. Enos Jr., 28 of Hilo, Highway 11 and Kipimana Street, Keaau, Dec. 20.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.