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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 6:42 p.m., Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Driver arrested following fatal crash

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 33-year-old Waiahole man was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and suspicion of driving drunk in connection with the death of a woman passenger in his Dodge Durango, which crashed early today in Kahalu'u.

The woman killed was identified by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office as Marilyn Richard, 31.

The driver of the truck was treated for minor injuries at Castle Medical Center before being booked for second-degree negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant at the Kailua police station at 6:48 a.m. He was transferred to the main police station's central receiving cellblock at 2 p.m. and released pending further investigation about three hours later.

Richard was pronounced dead at the scene, which was Kamehameha Highway, 160 feet north of Old Kamehameha Highway near the entrance to a 7-Eleven store parking lot at 47-515 Kamehameha Highway.

Police vehicular homicide lead investigator Sgt. Michael Brede said speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors fo O'ahu's 88th traffic fatality of the year.

Brede said the Durango was traveling north when it veered off the highway, collided with a guardrail and flipped over at 4:35 a.m.

Kane'ohe District patrol Lt. Dan Quon said the driver may have fallen asleep.

About 20 feet to the right of the bushes where the Durango rolled are four gas pumps. None were hit by any debris.