Police closed the H-1 Freeway near the Waiawa overpass to all westbound traffic after an early morning accident killed four people and injured two more. Police are investigating whether racing was involved in the 3:11 a.m. incident. Photos by Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

"There’s a possibility racing is involved according to witnesses," vehicular homicide investigator Sgt. Lorenzo Ridela said of the cars. Pearl City police Capt. Stephen Kim described the cars as Mitsubishi sedans, both registered to military owners.

The collision near the Waipahu offramp was reported to police at 3:11 a.m. Police kept the freeway closed for nearly seven hours, finally re-opening it at 9:59 a.m.

"It appears one car traveling way too fast was unable to stop in time," said acting Sgt. Kevin Kobayashi, the lead investigator. "It caused a chain reaction and fire. Some people were unable to get out of their vehicles."

The first car rear-ended the flat-bed truck in the lane closest to the center barrier, about 600 feet from the Waipahu off-ramp, before a second speeding car plowed into both vehicles, said Kobayashi.

Two of those killed were in one car. The others were in the flat-bed truck owned by Safety Systems Hawaii and the second car, said Kobayashi.

A soldier assigned to the 25th Infantry Division (Light) at Schofield Barracks was among those killed, the Army said today.

A 56-year-old man, who is the truck’s driver, and a soldier from Schofield are at The Queen’s Medical Center in serious condition.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said firefighters responded at 3:13 a.m. and found the vehicles on fire.

"The biggest fire was at the rear of the truck and to the front half of one car," Tejada said. "A person from one of the cars, possibly the driver, crawled out and was being assisted by bystanders."

David Nakama, who lives on Waiawa Road near the H-1 eastbound lanes, said he heard some "popping" sounds and went outside. Nakama said the flames were leaping so high he thought the crash had happened on his side of the freeway.

Racing cars in the area is a common occurrence, he said.

"Oh, yeah, late at night you always hear them gassing it along this strip," Nakama said. "Almost every week they have an accident right out here."

O'ahu’s traffic fatality count climbed to 16 with today’s four deaths as compared to nine on this date last year. A total of eight people have died on O'ahu roadways since Tuesday.

Today’s deadly collision is the worst on this island since four were killed in Dec. 8 on Farrington Highway in Makaha and a crash which killed five people March 18 outside of Hale'iwa town.

The Safety Systems driver has asked not to be identified. However, he told his wife that he escaped from the burning truck through a window and then tried to help his co-worker, who was unconscious. However, the driver was unable to get through the flames.

The driver saw the headlights of the car that rear-ended his truck but had no time to react, the wife said.

The Safety Systems truck was doing its regular morning inspection of the section of the freeway which becomes the zipper lane for morning commuters, said state Transportation Department spokesman Scott Ishikawa.

Ishikawa noted the truck is equipped with two rear flashers above the roof of the truck, which had its rear flashers on.

State Transportation Director Rodney Haraga said state legislators are considering two bills calling for tougher penalties on racing or speeding. "In addition to confiscating vehicles they are proposing charging (drivers) with felonies," Haraga said.

Advertiser staff writers Will Hoover, Mike Gordon and Vicki Viotti contributed to this report. Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com