Valley Student Dies In Hawaii Accident

A Spokane Valley high school honor student was killed Friday in Hawaii when he lost control of the bike he was riding and collided with a bus.

Michael Rinaldi, a 17-year-old University High School student, was one of 22 area high school students spending their spring vacation on a marine biology study tour.

Rinaldi reportedly was riding a mountain bike down from Haleakala Crater near Kula on Maui when he crossed the center line of Crater Road while trying to negotiate a hairpin turn and collided with a passing tour bus.

The University High senior was taken to Maui Memorial Hospital, then flown to The Queen’s Medical Center, but died three hours after Friday morning’s accident, police said.

Today would have been Rinaldi’s 18th birthday.

East Valley High biology teacher John Sweat is leading the study tour called, “Adventure Trek.” The students and six adult chaperons left Spokane last Sunday and are due to return Wednesday night.

Bob Bartlett, a University High biology teacher, remembered Rinaldi as an avid hunter and fisherman who was well-liked by classmates and teachers.

Rinaldi often told Bartlett about fishing trips he had taken with his father.

“He was just a great kid,” Bartlett said. “That’s a tragedy.”

, DataTimes