Tour bus driver is fired after refusing drug test
The driver in a fatal crash is under investigation by HPD
The driver who allegedly crashed his Roberts Hawaii tour bus into a sport utility vehicle last week, killing a Kaneohe man, was fired for failing to submit to drug and alcohol testing after his arrest Monday.
Roberts Vice President Deems Narimatsu released a statement Thursday that said: "Steve Oshiro (49), the bus driver involved in the accident, has been terminated for failing to comply with company policies."
"Roberts Hawaii asked Mr. Oshiro to submit to a drug and alcohol analysis as required by company policies and federal and state transportation regulations," but Oshiro's attorney "refused to allow the test," Narimatsu said.
He also said Oshiro was involved with another collision with a vehicle earlier that same day. Sources close to the investigation identified the vehicle as a city bus. Officials for Oahu Transit Services would not confirm if a Roberts Hawaii vehicle was involved, and only said that there was an incident involving a city bus near the PunahouBeretania area at 6:05 a.m. Monday.
"There were no injuries. ... I believe a police report was made," said Michelle Kennedy, Oahu Transit Services customer communications manager, "but I can't talk about the parties involved or give out details."
Narimatsu said there was no damage to the other vehicle involved in the earlier incident and that their bus only had a "cracked turn signal lens." In that case, Narimatsu said Roberts did not require its driver to submit to drug or alcohol testing because it was a "minor accident."
"In such minor accidents, no testing of the driver is required," he said. "We are continuing to investigate all details surrounding this accident."
About 8 1/2 hours after Oshiro's collision with the city bus, his tour bus crossed the center line along Kamehameha Highway and smashed head-on into the black sport utility vehicle belonging to 41-year-old Corey Voss, who was heading north on the highway, police said.
Witnesses told police that the Roberts bus had crossed over the center line more than once prior to the crash.
Voss was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, and police arrested Oshiro for third-degree negligent homicide. Later that night, he was released pending an investigation, which police said is ongoing.