Honolulu — James E. Oda, 59, a longtime city bus driver, died Tuesday morning after the city bus he was driving veered off North Vineyard Boulevard and slammed into a tree. It happened just after 7 a.m. near Pua Lane, and the bus was empty and not in service at the time.
Police and fire crews responded quickly. Oda had lost control of the bus while heading west on North Vineyard and crossed over the median before hitting the tree. Firefighters used heavy rescue tools to pull him from the driver’s seat, but he was badly hurt and later died at a hospital.
The scene was chaotic. Rescuers discovered a beehive in the tree, and three firefighters were stung multiple times while trying to free Oda. Emergency crews had worked under difficult conditions to reach him.
Oda had been with the city’s public transportation system for more than five years. He was known by coworkers as a steady, dependable driver who helped residents and visitors alike get around the island. His death added to the toll of traffic fatalities on Oahu this year, making it the 12th such death.
Honolulu’s mayor expressed sadness over the loss, saying Oda was part of the backbone of public transit and that his service mattered to many. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and officials have not yet released a full explanation of what caused Oda to lose control of the bus.
Friends and family remembered him as a kind, quiet man who loved his work. They said he took pride in getting people where they needed to go safely, and that his loss will be felt deeply by those who knew him.
Authorities are urging drivers to be cautious on North Vineyard and other busy Honolulu streets as they continue to examine the circumstances of the crash.
