Driver sued in crash that killed teacher

Advertiser Staff

Family members of a Holy Trinity School teacher who was killed in an August 2001 crash on the H-1 Freeway in Kaimuki are suing the driver of the car that slammed into the back of the van in which the woman was riding.

Police believe Nicholas Tudisco was traveling far in excess of the speed limit when he lost control of his highly modified 1999 Honda Prelude and struck the center barrier before slamming into the back of the 1994 Ford Aerostar carrying Elizabeth Kekoa and others.

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday by Honolulu attorney Lyle S. Hosoda, on behalf of Kekoa's brother Willie Davis Jr., Kekoa's mother Rose Davis and Kekoa's children Kristin and and Kristopher. It seeks money damages to be determined at trial.

Last year, a similar lawsuit was filed on behalf of Elizabeth Kekoa's husband, Wallace Kekoa.

Police believe that Tudisco, who was 18 at the time of the crash, may have been racing with another car or cars when the incident happened and asked for the public's help in finding other vehicles, but none was found.

Among those named as defendants in the lawsuit filed Tuesday are the unnamed vendors and suppliers who provided the high performance parts to Tudisco and the mechanics who installed them. Tudisco's parents, Michael and Cynthia Tudisco, also are listed as defendants.

Tudisco and his parents could not be reached to comment on the lawsuit.