Kapaʿa Man Dies in Moped Crash Sunday

The Kauaʿi Police Department reported Monday that a crash involving a pickup truck and a moped Sunday at the intersection of Kūhiō Highway and Ohia Street resulted in the death of a Kauaʿi resident.

According to a preliminary report, at about 6:40 p.m., 59-year-old Andrew Derego of Kapaʿa was operating a red moped, heading south on Kūhiō Highway and crossing the Ohia Street intersection, when his moped was struck by a white Toyota pickup operated by a 61-year-old Kapaʿa woman. The Toyota truck was heading north on Kūhiō Highway as the driver was attempting to turn left onto Ohia Street.

Derego sustained serious injuries and was transported to Wilcox Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the truck did not sustain injuries.

Speed does not appear to be a factor in this crash. Toxicology reports are pending to determine if either operator was under the influence at the time of the crash.

Derego was not wearing a helmet.

Kūhiō Highway and Ulu Street were closed for approximately three hours while the Traffic Safety Unit conducted an on-scene investigation. Motorists were re-routed and/or advised to use the Kapaʿa bypass as an alternate route.

This is the second traffic fatality this year. The first traffic fatality was related to 64-year-old Jeff Sutter of Wailua, who was found deceased inside of an overturned vehicle in Hanamāʿulu River earlier this month. A subsequent investigation determined that he was attempting to park when his vehicle went into the river.