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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 22, 2008

H-1 DEATH
Witnesses to teen's death on H-1 sought

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Eighteen-year-old Natasha Taualai, right, was killed yesterday on H-1 Freeway.

KGMB9

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An 18-year-old woman killed yesterday on the H-1 Freeway in Waipahu after leaving a moving car was identified by the Honolulu medical examiner's office as Natasha M. Taualai of 'Ewa Beach.

Police vehicular homicide investigators said Taualai, a passenger in a silver 2000 Mercury two-door sedan, was run over by a 1997 Toyota sedan while lying motionless on the road. The incident on the west-bound side of the freeway, 100 feet east of the Kamehameha Highway overpass, was reported to police at 12:10 a.m.

The 26-year-old driver of the Mercury, an East Honolulu man, and the 65-year-old driver of the Toyota, an 'Ewa Beach man, were not injured.

Taualai was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy determined cause of death as multiple internal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision and deferred on manner of death.

Police are investigating whether Taualai jumped, fell or was pushed from the car but homicide detectives have not been called in.

Maj. Frank Fujii today asked for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to call traffic investigators at 529-3499. Fujii said police are looking for witnesses who may have seen Taualai leave the car she was in.

Taualai's death is tentatively classified as a traffic fatality. It is the 28th this year and O'ahu's 15th traffic death since May 15.