The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office charged today a 20-year-old driver with second-degree negligent homicide for killing an Ewa Beach couple, who were bicycling near their home on March 24.

Jonah Moya was operating a car when he struck and killed Naomi Meyer, 62, and James Rowland, 75, who were in a crosswalk at the intersection of Fort Weaver Road and Iroquois Road.

Moya allegedly crossed the center line into oncoming lanes, hit a “Bike Path” sign, crashed into a traffic signal pole, then collided with the pair, according to a news release by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Police said in initial reports that speed may have been a contributing factor.

Police said the bicyclists were crossing Fort Weaver Road in a marked crosswalk heading toward the pedestrian island when they were hit. Meyer was pronounced dead at the scene, while Rowland was taken in critical condition to an area hospital, where he died.

The driver was heading west on Iroquois Road toward the intersection with Fort Weaver Road when he lost control of his vehicle, veered into the eastbound lane and hit a utility pole on a pedestrian island.

“The impact of the initial collision redirected the vehicle into the path of the two bicyclists,” police said.

Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm said: “The law defines Ms. Meyer and Mr. Rowland as vulnerable users because they were in a marked crosswalk, and a driver can be charged with second-degree negligent homicide if they cause the death of a vulnerable user,” Honolulu Prosecutor Steve Alm said.

It is a Class C felony.

This year so far, there have been five Oahu fatalities involving bicyclists, according to the Honolulu Police Department.

The Prosecutor’s Office “urges everyone to exercise caution and share the road.”