Woman, 81, hit by van, dies
By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer
An 81-year-old woman died yesterday after being struck by a van as she crossed North King Street in Iwilei. She was the fourth pedestrian killed in a traffic accident this year.
The Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office last night identified the woman as Fe Bulahan.
Honolulu police traffic investigators said Bulahan was in a crosswalk and had almost finished crossing North King Street, 463 feet west of Iwilei Road, when she was hit by a white 2006 Ford van at 11:30 a.m. The van appeared to have the green light, police said.
Bulahan was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition and died at 1:04 p.m.
A 28-year-old man who was driving the van was not injured, police said, and speed and alcohol did not appear to be factors.
Bulahan is O'ahu's fifth traffic fatality of the year and the fourth pedestrian killed since Jan. 7. All were 72 or older. Although it is still being counted by police as a traffic death, the medical examiner has determined that a 73-year-old motorist died of natural causes on Jan. 5. Police cannot change the count until official paperwork from the medical examiner's office is received.
On Friday, 75-year-old Floyd Girven of 'Ewa died after being struck in a crosswalk by a car while crossing Renton Road near 'Auwaha Street, police said.
Another 81-year-old, In Jae Kim, was killed Saturday while jaywalking on Young Street, near Pi'ikoi Street.
Rika Rosenberg, 72, died after she was struck by a taxi while sitting at a bus stop on Kalakaua Avenue near Makaloa Street on Jan. 7.
Pedestrians accounted for 20 of O'ahu's 90 traffic deaths in 2006; 28 of 78 fatalities in 2005; 24 of 71 deaths in 2004, and 13 of 75 fatalities in 2003.
Advertiser staff writer Rod Ohira contributed to this report.Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.