CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Two vehicles were damaged yesterday morning when a Ford Mustang convertible, partially visible in the background, clipped them and flipped over. A 23-year-old passenger pinned under the Mustang died at the scene.
|
|
Fatal crash involves speed, alcohol, drugs
A man, 23, is killed and the 32-year-old driver critically hurt in a Moiliili accident
Drugs, alcohol and speeding contributed to a car crash that killed one man and left the driver in critical condition early yesterday on Date Street, according to Honolulu police.
The 23-year-old passenger was pinned under the Ford Mustang convertible after the car clipped a parked pickup truck while traveling in the right lane headed toward Kapiolani Boulevard just past the Kaimuki Stream bridge at about 4:15 a.m.
The Mustang hit another car and then flipped over, partially ejecting the 32-year-old driver. However, his legs were trapped under the car.
"Man, that car was speeding like a bat out of hell," said Darryl Hollingsworth, who was smoking a cigarette outside his friend's apartment unit when the car came speeding by. "He hit that truck, then that truck hit another car and the convertible flipped over and spun around. We went over there, and we were talking to the guy and kept telling him to stay with us and that help is on the way."
Hollingsworth said the man kept on saying that he was injured and that his face was crushed. However, Hollingsworth said he did not think the man would die, because he kept responding to his words before emergency crews arrived.
"I just can't believe it," Hollingsworth said. "He was talking the whole time."
Police said the victim died as fire crews extricated him from the overturned vehicle.
Police said they found evidence of drugs and alcohol at the scene.
And though it was clear that the car was speeding, police have yet to determine how fast the victims were traveling.
Police are investigating the case as a first-degree negligent homicide.
Capt. Frank Fujii, Honolulu Police Department spokesman, said: "It's very lucky that more people weren't injured or killed.
"People need to be responsible for their own selves ... especially when they're driving."
Hollingsworth said the victims did not seem to be racing anyone else and that there were no other cars on the road at the time.
Police said this is the 57th traffic fatality so far this year compared with 50 for the same period last year.
Anyone with information about the crash or the whereabouts of the victims before the crash is asked to call vehicular homicide investigators at 529-3499.