A 15-year-old Kane'ohe girl was killed and a man in his 20s was injured last night in a traffic accident on Kalaniana'ole Highway in Kai-lua.

Police said the girl was a passenger in a gray Honda Accord and the injured man, who today was listed in guarded condition at The Queen's Medical Center, was the driver.

Witnesses said the Honda was traveling in the Kane'ohe-bound lanes and passing cars on the grassy median about 9:40 p.m., less than a half-mile northwest of Keolu Drive, near the Women's Community Correctional Center.

According to the police report, the driver lost control of the car, which slid sideways into the Waimanalo-bound lanes.

It was hit by a Toyota van, driven by a 55-year-old Kailua man. He was uninjured, police said, but the Honda broke in two pieces and the victims, who were not wearing seat belts, were thrown out.

The girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The city medical examiner's office did not release her name today.

The man's condition initially was listed as critical but improved, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police investigators today concluded that speeding was a factor in the accident but had not determined whether alcohol was involved.

2 held in shooting, auto-theft case

Two Honolulu men were arrested today in connection with a shooting and an auto-theft case in Kuli'ou'ou, but police this morning were unable to locate any victims or the gun that was used.

Neighbors told police they heard gunshots at 3:50 a.m. near a Haleloa Place home. Officers responding to the call found spent 9 mm casings on the ground near the home and saw a 1996 four-door silver car that fled the area.

Police said officers found it parked and the two suspects, 31 and 21, walking away from it further down Haleloa.

The car had stolen license plates and its ID number indicated it also was stolen, police said.

The registered owner gave permission for a vehicle search, police said, but the gun wasn't found there or outside the house where the shots were heard. The investigation did not turn up anyone with injuries.

Wai'anae hit-run driver sought

Police are looking for witnesses who can identify the driver of a car in a hit-and-run accident that left a motorcyclist injured May 12 in Wai'anae.

Police are seeking the driver of this car, photographed after it burned in a fire, in connection with a hit-and-run accident. RPhoto courtesy of CrimeStoppers

The accident happened about 2 p.m. on Pa'akea Road when a 61-year-old man was riding toward Honolulu and was hit on his left side by a white Honda two-door sedan, police said.

He was thrown about 30 feet to the roadway, police said, and suffered a broken ankle, separated shoulder and a bruised lung.

Firefighters found the burned car May 13 on 'Ili'ili Road.

Anyone with information can call Officer Mark Brown of the vehicular homicide section at 529-3499. Anonymous tips can be left with CrimeStoppers, 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.