HPD to slam brakes The family of a woman killed in an H-1 freeway crash on her way to church Sunday morning is asking those who may have been involved in a street race that led to the accident to turn themselves in.
on Oahu street racing
The family of a woman killed
School mourns teacher
in an H-1 crash calls for the
racers to turn themselves inBy Rod Antone and Nelson Daranciang
Kristen Kekoa, the daughter of crash victim Elizabeth Kekoa, says her family wants to know what happened, "for our own sake so we can put my mom to rest and have peace of mind."
She's asking for witnesses and anyone involved in a race that may have led to the crash to call police.
"Hopefully, their conscience (of the racers) will tell them to turn themselves in," Kekoa said.
Meanwhile, Honolulu police announced a plan yesterday to put the brakes on street racers as early as this coming holiday weekend with a show of force on Oahu roadways. Traffic officials said a group of racers appears to have been responsible for the death of Kekoa, a 58-year-old teacher at Holy Trinity School and Church.
"We do have witnesses who say that they saw at least two vehicles racing," said HPD traffic head Maj. Robert Prasser. "There are also possible witness statements that this was a road racing club and that there were vehicles blocking traffic to the rear. If this is true, we're going to have to step up our enforcement efforts."
"I'd like to do something this weekend to show we mean business."
Prasser said police would use their helicopter as well as the resources of several HPD departments to "step up" efforts to prevent street racing. Prasser also asked that the public call in any street racing activity on cellular phones so long as it can be done "safely."
"We want to stop a lot of this activity before it starts," he said. "If people can get off the road and give us a call, we will respond."
The accident happened on the H-1 freeway Koko Head-bound between the South King Street and 6th Avenue offramps. Police said a speeding black 1999 Honda collided with a 1994 Ford Aerostar at a speed estimated at close to 100 miles per hour.
Kekoa, of Honolulu, was traveling with her husband and mother in the van. Kekoa's husband was listed in fair condition and her 71-year-old mother in critical condition last night at the Queen's Medical Center.
Police arrested the driver of the Honda, 18-year-old Nicholas Tudisco, for negligent homicide. Police released Tudisco yesterday and say they may be looking for other suspects.
Traffic investigators said Tudisco was driving a Honda equipped with a high-performance motor, exhaust and intake system. While Prasser referred to the possibility of a "road racing club" involved, he added that no particular club has been identified.
Kekoa's son Kristopher and Tudisco were acquaintances at St. Louis School, Kristen Kekoa said. Kristopher Kekoa graduated last year. Tudesco graduated in the spring.
Response to the accident by high-performance car enthusiasts, or "import enthusiasts" as they call themselves, has been a mixed bag of emotions. Many are sorry for the Kekoas, angry at the possibility that street racing may have been the cause and concerned that HPD will target every modified car as a "street racer."
"I do think that the 18-year-old and the person who he was racing was wrong and should both be punished for their actions," said one person responding to questions posted by the Star-Bulletin at www.speedhawaii.com.
"But to single out people with souped-up Hondas/cars is wrong. HPD should just catch the guys driving reckless and racing. They are making the whole car scene look bad. But harassing souped-up cars while they are doing no wrong is wrong itself."
Another person writes: "Please ask the people not to automatically assume anyone with a modified car/truck is a street racer. The fact remains, there are people who decide to endanger the lives of other people by racing on the streets, but a lot of us in the community don't agree with this. Just like any hobby, there are people that are stupid that make everyone else look bad. A modified car does not kill people ... an idiot racing a modified car on the streets kills people. We gotta keep the idiots off the road, not the modified cars."
HPD statistics show that while the number of speeding citations has risen to 57,000 in 1999 from 33,000 in 1996, the average number of arrests has stayed the same. Police said from 1996 to 1999 there have been about 300 speeding arrests per year.
This accident marks the 54th traffic fatality this year, compared with 45 fatalities at the same time last year. Police said of the 54 traffic deaths this year, 17 have been speed-related.