23 October 2008: Kamehameha Highway Accident

A seven-ton truck was involved a fatal road accident on Kamehameha Highway while returning from the Kahukus Training Area. — Source: Honolulu Advertiser


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Marine truck veered across lane

Advertiser Staff
Saturday, October 23, 2008

The woman killed in a head-on collision Thursday in Hau’ula has been identified as Vicki Norman, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s office.

The 57-year-old Hau’ula resident was driving a silver Chrysler van south on Kamehameha Highway when a Marine troop transport truck veered into her lane, police said.

The collision pinned the woman in her vehicle, police said, and she died at the scene.

The seven-ton Marine truck, with two Marines inside, was on its way to Marine Corps Base Hawai’i from the Kahuku Training Area.

The 19-year-old driver and 20-year-old passenger were uninjured but were taken to Tripler Army Medical Center for evaluation. The Marines and the truck are with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment based at Kane’ohe Bay.

The accident happened shortly before 2:30 p.m. in the vicinity of 53-729 Kamehameha Highway near Puhuli Street, police said.

The medical examiner said the woman died of multiple blunt force injuries due to a motor vehicle collision.

Copyright © Honolulu Advertiser 2008


Fatal collision nets Marine 1-year term

By Nelson Daranciang
Jan 25, 2011

A state judge sentenced a Kaneohe Marine to one year in jail yesterday for third-degree negligent homicide in the death of a motorist in 2008.

Pfc. ██████████████ crashed a seven-ton military troop transport vehicle head-on into a minivan on Kamehameha Highway.

However, the judge is letting █████████, 21, remain free for the next two months to give his lawyer the opportunity to argue for a lesser sentence.

One year is the maximum jail term for third-degree negligent homicide.

█████████ had asked for a deferral of his no-contest plea, which would have given him the opportunity to clear the charge from his criminal record.

Should █████████ ask for a reconsideration of his sentence, Circuit Judge Michael Wilson said he would like his lawyer to present information regarding █████████’s training to operate the seven-ton vehicle, why he was driving the vehicle on Kamehameha Highway, whether he will continue to operate such vehicles, and regulations on operating such vehicles on public roadways.

“What continues to be a significant issue in this case is the continuing potential danger to the community for a seven-ton vehicle that may not be operated with proper training,” Wilson said.

█████████’s attorney, Noah Fiddler, said the then-19-year-old infantryman was driving the troop transport vehicle to the Kahuku Training Area from Kaneohe on Oct. 23, 2008, when he crossed the center line and crashed into Vicki Lynn Norman’s minivan. The 57-year-old mother of six died at the scene.

Witnesses reported seeing █████████ have difficulty negotiating his vehicle on the highway, especially around curves, either crossing the center line into the opposite lane of traffic or driving on the shoulder of the roadway, said Brian Kim, deputy prosecutor.

“He didn’t have control of the vehicle. The vehicle was simply just too big. He didn’t have the experience. Maybe he didn’t have the training,” Kim said.

Fiddler said █████████ received 40 hours of training to operate the vehicle, including some time on the road.

█████████ pleaded no contest last May. He apologized to Norman’s friends and relatives who showed up for his sentencing yesterday.

“I wish to express to you all my deepest remorse, my deepest sympathy and my deepest condolences. It is my greatest hope that your family be granted peace and Vicki be granted peace and that she finds herself in a better place,” █████████ said.

Norman’s oldest daughter, Lorraine Noelani Gonzalez, accepted █████████’s apology.

“I appreciate that he did that,” she said after the hearing.

She said she believes the apology was sincere, but she too would like to know more about █████████’s training for driving the vehicle.

Gonzalez and her siblings are suing the government in federal court over their mother’s death.

Copyright © Honolulu Advertiser 2011

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