Crash on Ala Moana kills Schofield soldier
By Will Hoover and Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writers
A 24-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier was killed early yesterday morning on Ala Moana near Pi'ikoi after the maroon, 4-door, 2001 Mitsubishi Gallant he was driving went out of control and plowed into a tree, police said.
Three passengers, two men age 21 and one man 23, also from Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa, were taken to The Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition.
Police said at around 3:30 a.m. the car was speeding west in the center lane of the three-lane road. The driver lost control as the vehicle moved to the left lane, hit the curb, bounced into the grassy median, rammed a tree, and spun back into the right lane of Ala Moana.
Police said it had rained and that the wet roadway may have been a factor in the crash. It was not known if drugs or alcohol were involved, they said.
The driver was dead at the scene. None of the men appeared to be wearing seat belts, police said.
Another accident yesterday, a two-car collision in Wahiawa, left a 71-year-old Wai'anae man in critical condition at Queen's.
The man was a back-seat passenger in a 1986 Honda Accord driven by a 32-year-old Wai'anae man.
The driver was headed west on Kaukonahua Road at about 9:45 a.m. and ran a stop sign at the Kamananui intersection near the pineapple garden, police said. The Honda broadsided a 2001 Mercury Marquis driven by a 69-year-old 'Ewa Beach man.
Paramedics took all occupants of both cars to hospitals. The driver, the 71-year-old man and a woman passenger of the Honda were taken to Queen's.
The driver of the Mercury and his three passengers, two 'Ewa Beach women ages 73 and 59 and an 'Ewa Beach man age 70, were taken to Wahiawa General Hospital.
Both drivers and all of the passengers, except the critically injured 71-year-old man, were in guarded condition. All except the critically injured man were wearing seat belts, police said.
Reach Will Hoover at 525-8038 or at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com. Reach Karen Blakeman at 535-2430 or kblakeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.
