Man dies in 'Ewa police chase

By Vicki Viotti
Advertiser Staff Writer

'EWA — A high-speed chase by police early today ended with a crash that killed a Wai'anae man near Kahi Mohala when the victim's car overturned.

The crash occurred at about 2:37 a.m. on Old Farrington Highway at Old Fort Weaver Road.

Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue said the incident began three minutes earlier when an on-duty sergeant spotted the 1979 Buick sedan speeding down Farrington Highway at an estimated 65 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Earlier, police had clocked a vehicle at 95 mph on the H-1 Freeway near Makakilo. The sergeant, whose name was not released, pursued the Buick on the suspicion it was the same car, but that could not be confirmed, Donohue said.

The victim, a 58-year-old Wai'anae resident, was pursued by the squad car, sirens blaring, into nearby residential areas and then back along the highway. The Buick then passed Kahi Mohala, drifted into the road's shoulder on a curve, struck an embankment and flipped over twice before stopping.

The man, whose name was not released, was not wearing a seat belt and the car did not have air bags. He was thrown from the car and suffered serious head injuries when he struck the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An investigation is continuing into whether alcohol was a factor, Donohue said.

"All of our procedures were followed, and there are witnesses that corroborated what happened," he said.

The Honolulu Police Department's pursuit policy requires officers to use lights and sirens during all chases and to be in communication with police dispatchers.