By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
One person was killed and 12 were injured about 8 a.m.
today when a westbound truck lost control and sideswiped
vehicles before ramming a car into the left guardrail of the
H-1 freeway near the Makakilo off-ramp. The large white
truck is shown in the lower right of the photo, as is the
burned car of the killed person, and other damaged vehicles.
Westbound traffic was kept at bay.
A tractor-trailer triggers
By Jaymes Song and Rob Perez
10-vehicle crash, killing one person
Star-BulletinOne person was killed and 12 were injured in an accident involving 11 vehicles early today on the H-1 freeway near the Makakilo exit. A 43-year-old woman was reported in critical condition after being flown with two other victims to the Queen's Medical Center. A 46-year-old woman and a man, age unknown, were in guarded condition at Queen's.
Three women and one man, including a husband and wife, were taken by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital-West; and five males were treated at Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi. All were reported in stable condition.
"In my 22 years in the department, I've never seen an accident like this," said Honolulu Police Lt. Jerry Wojcik.The freeway was blocked off from Kunia Road to Makakilo, and officials said the road would be closed for hours.
Rubin Villanueva of Kapolei said he heard a screeching noise behind him while waiting to get on the congested H-1 westbound off-
ramp just before 8 a.m.
He said he was about 75 yards from the off-ramp. In his sideview mirror, he saw a truck racing toward him.
The truck sideswiped his car, then continued through a narrow passageway between vehicles, striking cars as it went.
The truck veered to the left and pinned a vehicle onto the left guardrail, then burst into flames.
An unidentified person pinned in the burning car died in the accident.
"I was shaking," Villanueva said. "I was praying that I lived and hoping nobody got hurt.
"I just thank God I'm alive."
The accident occurred at an off-
ramp area that residents have long complained was a disaster waiting to happen, with cars often backed up onto the freeway during morning and afternoon rush hours.
The situation is particularly dangerous because speeding drivers coming around the curve often don't see the backup until the last minute and sometimes have to slam on their brakes.
Walter and Robertha Omori were in their white van with their dog, Coco, waiting on the off-ramp when they were rammed from behind and saw the Hawaii Transfer Co. truck go speeding by.
"I heard this big, loud thud," Walter Omori said, then moments later saw smoke and flames engulf the truck.
By Rick Bernicio, News Photo Hawaii
The 11-vehicle accident this morning at the H-1 freeway
near the Makakilo off-ramp burned one car, killing one person.
"The truck was really on fire," said Robertha.Within minutes, a water tanker from Kiewit Pacific -- renovating the off-ramp in part to prevent backups onto the freeway -- arrived at the scene and put out the fire, witnesses said.
Construction workers also assisted victims of the wreckage -- strewn along the freeway for at least 50 yards.
Walter Omori said he was waiting on the off-ramp just where it leaves the freeway and was silently hoping that the cars ahead of him would move forward so he could be clear of the traffic speeding by.
He said he had a small flashlight, pen, comb and notepad in his top shirt pocket, but the impact of the crash from behind sent them flying out. "I can't find them," Walter Omori said, still dazed from the accident.
He said he and his wife were uninjured but shaken. His dog was scared, the second time in a year Coco has been involved in a rear-
end accident, the Omoris said.
Hundreds of cars were blocked off between Makakilo and Kunia and rerouted through construction.
Sgt. Dan Kwon said the freeway should be opened early this afternoon.
