Updated at 2:26 p.m., Monday, October 23, 2006
Car crash kills one teen, critically injures another
Advertiser Staff
The passenger who was killed in a high-speed automobile accident on the Moanalua Freeway late last night has been identified as 19-year-old Joahl Mirafuentes of Waipahu by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office.The 21-year-old driver of the car taken to The Queen's Medical Center and was listed in critical condition.
Police said the pair were in a gray, 2004 Infinity traveling in the east-bound direction about 11:55 p.m. yesterday when the driver lost control about a half mile before the Ala Kapuna overpass. Witnesses told police that the car was moving eratically at a high rate of speed just before the driver lost control.
The car flew sideways and rolled several times before landing on its roof in a grass culvert on the side of the freeway. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The driver and his passenger were both wearing seatbelts, police said.
Traffic investigators suspect another vehicle — possibly a dark blue Toyota compact — was involved in the accident and are asking the public's help.
Witnesses with information are asked to call 529-3068. It was the second fatal traffic incident on Oahu in less than 24 hours — and the second involving a teenager.
So far this year there have been 78 traffic fatalities compared to 61 at this time last year. Waialua resident Bobby Gouveia, 18, also was killed early yesterday morning when the car he was in veered across the center line on Farrington Highway, struck a utility pole and rolled several times before stopping on the grounds of Dillingham Airfield & Gliderport in Mokuleia.
