Racing seen as possible
cause of fatal car crash

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By Mary Vorsino
mvorsino@starbulletin.com

A car race may have caused yesterday's two-car collision near the merge of the H-1 and H-2 freeways that left one man dead and five others injured, say Honolulu Police Department traffic investigators.

Witnesses said the two cars apparently were racing side by side before colliding, said Maj. Robert Prasser.

Police are seeking witnesses to the collision in which alcohol also may have been a factor, police Sgt. Lorenzo Ridela said. Witnesses should contact the HPD traffic investigation division at 529-3499.

The accident occurred at about 3:15 a.m. yesterday when the cars -- a 1989 blue Honda and a 1993 black Honda, both modified for racing -- crashed on the H-2 freeway on-ramp. They had been heading westbound on the H-1 freeway.

The blue Honda lost control and ran into the left guard rail. The car's driver, a 23-year-old man, was ejected and died.

Two of the blue Honda's passengers, a 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, were seriously injured. The man remained in critical condition and the woman improved to guarded condition this morning.

Another passenger, a 19-year-old woman, was treated at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center and released.

The black Honda's 17-year-old driver also was taken to Kaiser and released. His 13-year-old passenger was reported in fair condition at Queen's.