Opinion ID: 2635221
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Testimony of Lieutenant James Kelly

Text: HCPD Officer Lt. James Kelly attended the Safety Council meetings and recalled citizens expressing concerns specifically involving water conditions on the P&amacr;hoa Bypass near the eleven mile marker, the same area where Klink's accident occurred. Kelly testified that at least one DOT representative was present at each meeting, normally Haymore or McClure. In addition to the other complaints, at one meeting, the Safety Council's leader directly addressed the state representative and demanded that an investigation be undertaken of the particular stretch of highway. Lt. Kelly testified that he was disquieted by the citizens' concerns and that he twice undertook his own investigations of the subject area. He made it a point to inspect the highway during different levels of rainfall and testified that [t]he depth of the water was significant on the heavy downpour time. In fact, both regular rain conditions and a heavy downpour created a similar water pattern: [A]s the road is level and starts to curve and go down that the water would stay within the roadway and would follow the curve and follow the downward pattern of the roadway. It would sheet from that particular area, makai to mauka, [east to west, northbound to southbound lanes] inside corner, and then diagonally cross the road. There would be a noticeable sheet during the curve in the down sweep of the water running broadly across the road to the inside. The water would completely cross the roadway at that time. Lt. Kelly discussed his observations and concerns at length with a state representative. An employee of the DOT's Highways Division reported to the Safety Council that an investigation of the site revealed no problems with water on the roadway. Lt. Kelly got a little strong at that point and asked the representative if the State could groove the roadway, but [a]gain they said it wasn't a problem. Lt. Kelly was part of the investigative team that responded to the Klink accident. He recalled observing water running along the gutter located on the west side of the road. Based on the debris line at the gutter, he concluded that water [had been] there at a much higher level than when I got there. Lt. Kelly did not recall any running water or debris on the east side of the road, nor did he recall observing any water running off the east driveway or property.