Man held, released in H-1 crash probe
Police arrested one man but continue to investigate a two-car crash that killed a man Saturday night on the H-1 freeway near Makakilo.
Police said the 49-year-old victim was driving west in the middle lane when his Ford Escape sideswiped another sport utility vehicle, then hit the center barrier and flipped over. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 46-year-old driver of the other SUV, a Ford Expedition that was pushed against the guardrail and turned on its side, tried to run away but was later arrested for failure to render aid, police said yesterday.
Police, who used a helicopter to find and capture the man, have since released him.
Alcohol and speeding contributed to the accident, which happened at about 7:15 p.m. half a mile west of the Farrington Highway overpass, according to police.
Police declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
After the accident, police diverted traffic off the freeway and to the Farrington Highway at the Makakilo exit.
The Medical Examiner's Office was trying yesterday to confirm the victim's name.
It was the 14th traffic fatality on Oahu this year, compared with nine at the same time in 2006, police said.