HPD: ‘Reckless’ driver to blame in horrific head-on crash that left 2 dead

KAHUKU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Two people were killed and two were critically injured Monday in a head-on crash on Oahu’s North Shore that police say happened after a driver recklessly weaved in and out of traffic.

Police have opened a negligent homicide and manslaughter case.

The crash happened on Kamehameha Highway near Gunstock Ranch at about 1:10 p.m.

Authorities said a 27-year-old driver of a pick-up truck hit a Hyundai Elantra head-on. Two people in the Elantra were killed and another person was critically injured.

Meanwhile, the pickup truck driver was also left in critical condition with multiple broken bones.

HPD Maj. Ben Moszkowicz, head of the Honolulu Police Department’s traffic division, said the crash happened in a passing zone. He added when you’re passing traffic, you’re not supposed to exceed the speed limit.

“Based on the severity of the crash, the reckless driving exhibited by the driver of the white Ford pickup truck at this point, we’re investigating this case as a homicide and as a manslaughter case,” said Moszkowicz.

“This is more than just a simple negligence or regular negligence kind of case for us. The reckless driving that the man exhibited leads us to believe that this is a double manslaughter case.”

Longtime Kahuku Resident Melenau Haiola was just a few cars behind the Elantra when it was hit by the truck.

“I heard that big impact, it was just a big boom,” said Haiola.

“By the time I get over there, the white truck was already crossing over that line.”

HPD has not identified the victims or the driver of the truck.

But authorities did say one of those killed was a man in his 30s.

HPD closed a portion of Kamehamheha Highway in both directions in front Malaekahana Park while they investigated. At about 4:10 p.m., they started contraflowing traffic through the park.

The highway has since reopened.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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