H-1 crash tieup a 'necessary inconvenience'

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Honolulu police apologized yesterday for an accident investigation on the H-1 Freeway that snarled traffic for hours Monday.

The three-car accident on the H-1 westbound lanes near the Pearl City off-ramp left one woman dead. Police said the 52-year-old Pearl City woman, who was driving a 1993 Toyota Camry, was speeding in the far right lane about 1:30 p.m. when she swerved to the left to avoid stopped traffic. Her car hit a van, which in turn hit a Jeep. The driver of the Camry was pronounced dead at the scene. No one else was injured.

Police traffic investigators closed four of the five lanes on the freeway for three hours, backing up westbound traffic as far as downtown Honolulu. Many adjoining city streets were gridlocked for hours as well, as commuters scrambled to find alternative routes home.

Assistant Police Chief Michael Tucker said the investigation that stranded motorists for hours was necessary.

"We really apologize for the necessary inconvenience. We're very sensitive to trying to keep the roadways open," he said.

He said HPD will re-examine its accident investigation protocols and work with the state Department of Transportation to come up with ways to free up traffic flow during accident investigations on major thoroughfares. He said traffic investigations, especially those involving fatalities, are sensitive and time-consuming.

He emphasized that HPD is responsible both for controlling the traffic around the accident and helping the victims of the accident. He said the department received numerous calls Monday about the traffic jam — some polite, others not so polite.

"Some want to vent, others want to offer us alternatives," Tucker said.

Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.