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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:42 p.m., Sunday, October 12, 2008

Woman killed on H-1; hit-and-run suspect arrested

Advertiser Staff

A 23-year-old woman passenger in a car involved in an accident on the H-1 Freeway died today from apparent injuries suffered when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver while standing on the roadway.

The Honolulu Medical Examiner's office identified the woman as Emmergine Fuamoli. She was pronounced dead at The Queen's Medical Center at 9:05 a.m., nearly five hours after police responded to the scene of the accident on the westbound side of the H-1 Freeway, 62 feet west of the Pali Highway overpass.

Police located the suspect's vehicle, a 2005 Honda sedan, in a parking lot on Houghtailing and Ahiahi streets at 6 a.m. and arrested a 36-year-old Waiau man for investigation of failure to render aid. A 20-year-old 'Ahuimanu man, who arrived at the parking lot in a separate car, was arrested for first-degree hindering prosecution.

According to police, the suspect driver passed a sobriety test.

The man arrested for hindering prosecution was allegedly claiming to have been driving the Honda. Police, however, have an eyewitness of who was driving the Honda.

Both men were released pending further investigation this afternoon from the main police station cellblock.

Fuamoli's death is tentatively classified as O'ahu's 13th pedestrian fatality of 2008 since she was on the roadway, and the 34th traffic fatality.

Police vehicular homicide investigators said Fuamoli was the front-seat passenger in a 2000 gold Nissan sedan driven by a 26-year-old man. Another man, also 26, was in the back seat. Fuamoli and the driver were arguing, police said, and as the car approached the School Street exit, the woman allegedly grabbed the steering wheel causing the driver to lose control of the car.

The Nissan collided with the center concrete barrier but none of its occupants were injured, police said. Fuamoli, however, got out of the car and was struck by the Honda sedan, which did not stop.

Westbound lanes in the area were closed for 3 1/2 hours due to the investigation.