A loving wife, mother and grandmother.That’s how family members are remembering Karen Narveson – a visitor from Minnesota who died while on a Haleakala bike tour on Maui.
Her husband says it's a tragic accident especially since they were both experienced riders.
Funeral arrangements are being finalized for 64-year-old Minnesota resident Karen Narveson.
Karen died last week Wednesday at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
Her husband says she suffered traumatic head injuries after falling off her bicycle during a guided tour with the Mountain Riders company.
"I think people hear this accident and so oh they went off the mountain well that's not true,” says husband, Alan.
He says they were nearing the end of the ride when his wife crashed on Baldwin Avenue.
She was wearing a helmet.
Alan says he and his wife had biked together for the past 25 years and had even gone rocky mountain biking on the mainland.
They were married for 44 years and this was their second visit to the islands.
"I don't blame Hawaii you know it’s just one of those things,” said Alan.
Two years ago, all Haleakala bike tours were banned from riding down the summit because of several fatal accidents.
Since then, the trip has been limited to starting outside the park entrance and downward more than 20 miles.
Alan says his wife was his soul mate.
They have three children and four grandchildren.
After she died, Karen's organs were donated to the organ donor center of Hawaii.
The Owners of Mountain Riders could not be reached for comment.
