HONOLULU (Island News) — A lawsuit filed by the family of surfer Dakota Briley seeks accountability from the City and County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii following a serious crash along Kamehameha Highway on March 10, 2022.
Briley was struck after a vehicle veered onto the shoulder, pinning him against another vehicle as he prepared for a surf lesson. The crash resulted in multiple surgeries and a prolonged recovery process.
According to the lawsuit, government officials have been aware of hazardous roadside parking conditions near Chun's Reef for over two decades but failed to take corrective action. Attorney Mike Cruise emphasized that plans dating back to 2005 aimed to relocate parking away from the highway and enhance facilities for beachgoers, yet those initiatives were never implemented.
“There's cars coming both directions, and then we have to dodge everybody that comes around, and it's kind of scary,” local surfer Kelvin Jiminis stated, emphasizing ongoing safety concerns for individuals parking along the roadway.
The lawsuit not only seeks to hold the city and state accountable but also aims to prompt safety improvements to prevent similar incidents in the future. Cruise noted that Briley will require lifelong care due to the injuries sustained.
As of Thursday night, neither the city nor the state had issued a statement regarding the lawsuit.