Alleged drunken driver hits police cars, causing blaze
Two officers inside the cars escape with minor injuries; the driver is arrested
Two police officers narrowly escaped serious injury when a car ran through a roadblock on the H-1 Freeway and slammed into two police cars, causing one of them to burst into flames early yesterday morning.
Two officers who were in the cars escaped with minor sprains and burns after the 3:30 a.m. incident near the Makakilo overpass.
The 25-year-old driver of the car was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, police said.
The officers were assisting in the investigation of an 11:55 p.m. crash Friday night that left a 46-year-old motorcyclist in critical condition.
The charred remains of a police patrol car at the back of the Kapolei Police Station show how serious an alleged drunken-driving crash could have been early yesterday morning.
The police car, with an officer inside, caught fire when a 25-year-old man drove his car through traffic flares and slammed into the rear of the car and hit another marked patrol car, police said.
Two Honolulu police officers were able to escape their vehicles with only minor burns and scrapes. The officer in the vehicle that caught fire suffered first-degree burns on his face and arms. The officer inside suffered a sprained wrist and minor cuts. Both officers were treated at the Hawaii Medical Center West and released.
 FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COMThe remains of a police car were stored at the Honolulu Police Department's Kapolei substation after the car was destroyed yesterday by a fire. The blaze started when a motorist, later arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, slammed into the cruiser. CLICK FOR LARGE |
|
A small amount of ammunition was set off in the back seat of the first vehicle, but there were no other injuries, police said.
The driver was arrested at 3:40 a.m. for suspicion of drunken driving. He was released after a $500 bail was posted.
Ironically, the officers were helping to route traffic around another crash involving suspected excessive speed and drinking and driving.
At about 11:55 p.m. Friday, a 46-year-old man was riding his 2005 Harley-Davidson motorcycle Waianae-bound on the freeway just beyond the Makakilo overpass.
He changed from the far-left to the far-right lane, colliding with the rear of a 2004 Toyota van, driven by a 59-year-old man, traffic investigators said.
The 46-year-old was taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he was in critical condition. The driver and a 79-year-old man riding in the van were not injured.
