Posted on: Friday, January 18, 2002

Witness identifies driver in fatal crash

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward Writer

A witness has stepped forward to identify a man as the driver of one of the two cars in a fatal Waimanalo collision last year, the lawyer for the family of a woman killed in the crash said yesterday.

Lorrie-Ann Wiley was killed when her Honda Civic collided with a Chrysler near Olomana Golf Links on Jan. 2, 2001. City prosecutors at one point declined to seek criminal charges because no witness could identify the driver of the Chrysler.

Although an injured man was found outside the cars and taken to Castle Medical Center, no one could say he was the driver of the Chrysler, which was later destroyed.

Richard Fried, lawyer for the Wiley family, said the witness contacted his clients after The Advertiser published stories on the lack of evidence and following a police request that anyone with information step forward.

Fried said the witness, whom he declined to name, was driving to work that morning, saw a cloud of dust where the two cars collided and stopped to help. Both drivers were still in their cars, Fried said, and the witness helped an injured man from the Chrysler.

During a photographic lineup Tuesday, the witness picked the photo of the injured man as the driver he pulled from the Chrysler, Fried said.

Police yesterday confirmed that the witness selected a man from the lineup, but said they were continuing their investigation.

Wiley's husband, David Wiley, said he is cautiously optimistic that the case will go to trial. "I remember at one time it was a slam-dunk case," Wiley said.