Teenager killed in Kalihi Valley mo-ped crash

A roadside memorial at Kalihi and Machado Streets

The scene at Kalihi and Machado Streets, where a 17-year-old mo-ped rider crashed into a car

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A 17-year-old boy is dead after crashing his mo-ped on Kalihi Street late Saturday night.

Friends identified the victim as Francisco "Cisco" Hufana.

Around 11:30 p.m., emergency officials say Hufana was speeding up Kalihi Street when he struck a vehicle turning from Machado Street. Neighbors said they recalled hearing a big crash, and seeing the teenager lying in the street.

Hufana was taken in extremely critical condition to the hospital, where he later died. Police say he was not wearing a helmet and it's unknown if alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Hufana's friends gathered at the street corner, where a roadside memorial had been set up. Friends had left candles and flowers. Others had also left bottles of beer, but by mid-morning most of the bottles had been removed, while the candles, flowers, and other mementos remained.

"He was like a little brother to me, a little brother that I never had," said friend Jason Tiempo. "He was the most positive, the most happiest, most energetic person in our group."

Teddy Thamdy knew Hufana since they were eleven years old. "He lived the hardest life of all of us, and he was still the happiest guy," said Thamdy.

According to friends, Hufana attended Farrington High School. But one of his major passions was his mo-ped. He was a member of a mo-ped club, and some of his fellow riders came by to pay tribute, a few of them popping wheelies and doing other risky maneuvers.

"He enjoyed working on his mo-ped," said Tiempo, who doesn't ride a mo-ped himself. "He mentioned every day that he was working on 'um. Making it faster every day."

The driver of the vehicle was not hurt, while two passengers were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

This is the seventh traffic fatality of the year compared to four at the same time in 2012.