Posted on: Saturday, January 1, 2005

Nanakuli head-on kills man, injures two

By Eloise Aguiar and Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

An early morning head-on collision yesterday on Farrington Highway in Nanakuli killed one man and injured two others, one of them critically, paramedics and police said.

The accident occurred at about 2 a.m. on the highway near Auyong Homestead Road, not far from Tesoro and Sack N Save, police said.

Three pickup trucks were involved: a 1996 blue Toyota driven by a 24-year-old man who died at the scene; a 2004 blue Dodge Dakota driven by a 38-year old man who was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in serious condition; and a 1985 Toyota driven by a 35-year-old male who was taken to Queen's in critical condition, a police report said.

Police said the Dodge was traveling east on Farrington Highway and the 1985 Toyota was following it when the 1996 Toyota truck, traveling west on Farrington, veered into the Dodge's lane and struck the Dodge head-on. The 1985 truck then reared ended the Dodge, slipping under its rear end, and spun out to the south shoulder of the road and collided with a street light.

The driver of the 1996 Toyota was pinned in his truck and died at the scene, police said.

Police said they did not know if speed, alcohol or drugs were involved, and they didn't know if seat belts were used.

Weather conditions were clear, the report said.

Farrington Highway was closed during the morning rush hour in both directions until 8:30 a.m. Drivers were diverted to Mohihi Street.

It was the 70th traffic fatality of the year on O'ahu, compared with 81 at the same time last year, police said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.