One of the passengers in the same car, a 22-year-old woman, also was at the hospital in guarded condition today.

Police and fire officials said yesterday that a third victim in the crash ­ a 13-year-old boy with burns ­ was in fair condition at Queen's but a hospital spokeswoman today could not confirm or deny that he was a patient.

One man was killed and five people injured in the accident, including two people who did not require hospitalization.

The identity of the 23-year-old man killed in the collision has not been released but he is a Kahuku resident, according to the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office.

Traffic investigators say speed and alcohol may have been factors in the 3:15 a.m. accident. Two cars ­ a blue 1989 Honda and a black 1993 Honda ­ were northbound on an onramp from Kamehameha Highway onto the H-2 Freeway when they collided.

The 20-year-old was in the blue Honda and was ejected as the car struck the onramp guardrail, police said. Moments later, the man killed in the crash was ejected from the Honda.

Maj. Robert Prasser of the traffic division said police have unconfirmed reports that the two cars were racing.

"We are still trying to confirm this," Prasser said today, adding that the exact speed of the cars was not known yet.

"At this point, I would only be guessing, but I understand it was quite fast," he said.