One of Palau’s top young athletes, Kalson Dulei, was struck by a vehicle early Saturday morning while waiting with a friend to be rescued after their vehicle ran out of gas on the Compact Road near Ngatpang.
The vehicle said to have been driven by Siles Ngiralulk from Ngeremlengui struck the victim but continued on to Koror to report the incident to the police. Reports also said that he was already deceased when police arrived at the scene.
Kalson Dulei is a well-known young athlete adept in many different sports, having represented his home State of Ngardmau in baseball, basketball and track and field. He was currently participating in the 2021 IP&E Amateur Basketball League competition, playing for Team Bullets.
He has represented Palau in regional games such as the Micronesian Games and Pacific Games. One sport he had particularly excelled in is baseball, having played as a pitcher since his teens. He had played baseball representing Palau in Pacific Games in 2008 in Samoa and in Pacific Games in 2011 in New Caledonia, among others. He also participated in friendship baseball competitions with Japan, Taiwan and Korea and also as part of Belau Force playing against Palau teams overseas.
No official report has been issued yet by the police of the incident. BPS Director Ismael Aquon said the investigation is still ongoing. Meanwhile, family and friends are still coming to grips with the sudden loss of the promising young man.
Prominent athlete dies in hit & run car accident
