Lihu‘e resident Oliver Tesch died Monday, the result of injuries sustained in a accident while crossing ‘Umi Street in Lihu‘e Sunday. Tesch, 50, of Lihu‘e, was hit by a woman driving a small Toyota sedan as he crossed ‘Umi Street
Lihu‘e resident Oliver Tesch died Monday, the result of injuries sustained in a accident while crossing ‘Umi Street in Lihu‘e Sunday.
Tesch, 50, of Lihu‘e, was hit by a woman driving a small Toyota sedan as he crossed ‘Umi Street near the former County Building Annex next to the historic County Building, attorney and witness Mark Zenger said Monday.
He leaves behind a wife, two children, and a twin brother, said Bob Bartolo, the owner of AllKauai Cleaning & Dirt Busters Janitorial Services, and Tesch’s boss for at least the last six years.
“Oliver was one of the most kindhearted, sincere people I have ever met,” Bartolo said yesterday. “It’s still a shock. I still expect to see him walking up the stairs, giving me a funny salute.
“He was always ready to go, a hardworking, gogetter,” Bartolo added of his friend. “He always had a smile, always wanted to help.”
Bartolo continued, saying that Tesch “was the kind of guy that, when he walked into a room, he’d say ‘hey everybody.’ He’d just light up a room.”
A negligenthomicide investigation has been opened by officers of the Kaua‘i Police Department, said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer.
No arrests have been made.
Tesch is the first person killed in a traffic accident on Kaua‘i this year.
In another pedestrian accident, this one on Monday just before 8 a.m., two pedestrians were injured when a elderly man lost control of his vehicle.
According to Ozaki, the man lost control of his car in the Immaculate Conception Church parking lot on Kapaia Road.
He hit three parked cars and one moving car as well as one male and one female pedestrian.
The two injured were taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital, but their injuries were not deemed lifethreatening, Ozaki added.
Tom Finnegan, staff writer, may be reached at 2453681 (ext. 252) or mailto:tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.