Three killed in
crashes identified

The teen killed driving
a stolen car Friday is ID'd as
Cristodios Guirnalda

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

City medical examiners have identified three people killed over the weekend in car crashes, including the teen killed in the crash of a stolen car near Makakilo, which snarled morning rush-hour traffic for hours.

The teen killed Friday on the H-1 freeway near Makakilo while fleeing from a police officer has been identified as 18-year-old Cristodios Guirnalda of Waipahu.

Police say an officer stopped Guirnalda on Makakilo Drive just before 4 a.m. after noticing the car's front license plate was missing. Guirnalda allegedly drove off after he was unable to produce identification.

The officer said he chased Guirnalda but abandoned pursuit when the suspect took the H-1 onramp. The officer estimated Guirnalda had been driving at about 90 mph when he disappeared townbound on the freeway. The officer discovered the wreck about 2.6 miles from the Makakilo onramp; Guirnalda had been thrown from the car.

In an unrelated incident, Charles Meyer, 60, of Pearl City was killed Friday night after the van he was riding in was struck by a speeding truck on Mokulele Drive.

His daughter, 28, who was driving at the time, is still recovering in the hospital. His wife and three nieces sustained cuts and bruises.

The family was headed to a sister-in-law's home in Kailua at the time of the crash, said son Rodney Meyer.

Charles Mayer, a custodian this past year at Kaleiopuu Elementary in Waipahu, was sitting in the van's front seat and died at the scene.

The driver of the truck, a 22-year-old woman, is under investigation for negligent homicide. Police said she allegedly ran a red light and struck the van as it made a left turn onto Mokulele.

Yesterday, Robert Lavin, 20, of Waimanalo died after he reportedly lost control of his pick-up, which overturned on Pali Highway. Police suspect speed and alcohol contributed to the crash.