Posted on: Tuesday, November 12, 2002

Six killed in weekend car crashes identified

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Authorities have identified six motorists killed in five separate car accidents in one of the deadliest holiday weekends on Hawai'i's roadways in recent memory.

Four of the deaths are from three Big Island accidents.

A 76-year-old man, identified by police as Albert Moriguchi of Kailua, Kona, was killed Sunday in a head-on crash on Palani Road. Moriguchi was a passenger in a 1993 Mercury sedan that was struck by a 1989 Nissan that crossed the centerline.

Moriguchi's wife, 72, was transferred from North Hawai'i Hospital to The Queen's Medical Center and was listed in guarded condition. The 23-year-old driver of the Nissan was arrested for investigation of negligent homicide and driving without a license and insurance.

A California couple killed Saturday in a two-car crash on Hawai'i Belt Road in North Hilo has been identified as Paul Eugene Porterfield, 43, and his wife, Debra Sue Porterfield, 42, both of Norco, Calif.

The Porterfields were driving a Jeep when it was struck by a 1982 Chevy pickup. A witness reported that the pickup, traveling south, crossed the centerline and struck the Jeep heading in the opposite direction at around 3 p.m., police said.

After the crash, the Jeep skidded along the west bridge railing and then fell to the ground below, killing both occupants.

The 36-year-old O'okala woman who was driving the pickup involved in the crash was treated and released from the North Hawai'i Community Hospital. Alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the crash, and police have initiated two negligent homicide investigations.

A 19-year-old man killed Saturday in a one-car crash on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway has been identified as Raymond Kapono Shim of Honaunau.

Responding to a 12:25 a.m. call Saturday, police determined that Shim was a passenger in a 2003 Honda four-door sedan traveling north on the highway just south of the 89-mile marker. Witnesses reported the Honda went out of control while overtaking another vehicle, ran off the road and overturned.

Shim was ejected and pinned beneath the vehicle, police said. He was transported to the Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 4:45 a.m.

Speed is believed to have been a factor in the accident.

Kona patrol officers arrested the driver, a 23-year-old Kailua, Kona man on Sunday, then released him pending further investigation. Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death. The driver was taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash.

On O'ahu, a 2-month-old boy died after being thrown from a family van which crashed shortly before noon Sunday in La'ie, while a 23-year-old Kalihi man was killed in an early morning car crash eastbound on Nimitz Highway, near the H-1 Freeway on-ramp. The deaths raised O'ahu's traffic fatality count for the year to 59.

The Honolulu medical examiner's office identified the infant as Kaliko Makepa-Burrows of Hau'ula Homestead Road, while Raul S. Kawamoto of Makuakane Place was the man killed on Nimitz Highway.

Police said a 1-year-old girl, who was a van passenger in Sunday's La'ie crash, was taken to Queen's in critical condition. Queen's has not released her condition since her arrival because she is a minor. The children's father, 29, and mother, 30, are in fair condition. The two other children, ages 5 and 6, were treated for minor injuries and released yesterday from Kahuku Hospital.

Police traffic investigators said the girl's father apparently fell asleep while driving, causing the van to drift off the roadway.

Sunday's accidents also included a 37-year-old bicyclist who was struck by a sports utility vehicle on Kamehameha IV Road near Keha Place at 4 p.m. Sunday. The man remained in critical condition last night at Queen's.

Another Sunday crash on H-1 Freeway occurred near the Kaonohi overpass in 'Aiea in which two of three cars involved burst into flames. A 20-year-old man in one of the vehicles was taken to Queen's in critical condition but has since been upgraded to guarded condition.

Staff writer Rod Ohira contributed to this report.