Man dies after being hit by car

A pedestrian was killed when a vehicle struck him along Beach Road in San Jose Tuesday night.

Misauo A. Mikiuo, 35, from Chuuk, sustained severe head trauma, a fractured spine, lung contusion, fractured pelvis, swollen left rib, abrasion on the left cheek, and laceration on the right heel.

Mikiuo is the fifth vehicular accident fatality in the CNMI this year. All the five deadly crashes happened on Saipan.

Police identified the driver in Tuesday’s incident as 40-year-old Ji Zhu Piao.

Department of Public Safety Traffic Unit officer in charge Sgt. Jerry L. Ayuyu stated in his report that speed and alcohol had not been determined as factors in the crash, but the case is still under further investigation.

Based on the preliminary investigation, Ayuyu said Mikiuo caused the crash after violating CNMI Vehicle Code Title 9 sub section 540(a), which states that “pedestrians not crossing at crosswalk other than at an intersection shall yield to vehicle on highway.”

Ayuyu said a caller reported the accident around 7:30pm.

Police officers who responded to the scene—near Downtown Market along Beach Road—requested for medics and a traffic investigator.

Police’s preliminary investigation showed that Piao, aboard a silver 2004 Toyota Rav4, was heading south on Beach Road using the inner lane.

Mikiuo was attempting to cross Beach Road when the vehicle struck him on the southbound inner lane.

Medics transported Mikiuo to the Commonwealth Health Center where he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. At 11:30pm Dr. John Yarofalir pronounced him dead, Ayuyu said.

Ayuyu said the weather was clear and the road surface was dry when the accident happened.

The vehicle was towed. It had major damage to the hood, front windshield, bumper and grill, the officer added.

Four other fatal accidents occurred on the island this year.

On June 22, a Yapese man died when his car ran off the roadway and fell into a drainage along Tun Joaquin Doi Road in Finasisu. Alcohol was reportedly involved in the accident.

On May 4, Grande C. Nonan, 41, a Filipino, died in a vehicular hit and run incident along Isa Drive in Sadog Tasi. Nonan and a friend were reportedly walking uphill along the shoulder of the road when a sports utility vehicle struck him.

On April 19, a 10-year-old boy died when the bicycle he was driving collided with a vehicle in lower Dandan Homestead.

On Feb. 8, a 65-year-old Chinese man died when a pickup truck struck him as he was crossing Middle Road in Garapan.