2-vehicle crash on Kauai kills 1, injures others

By Erica Barry
HNN Summer Intern

LAWAI, KAUAI (HawaiiNewsNow) - A two-vehicle crash that occurred early Friday morning in Lawai involving six teens resulted in several injuries and one fatality, Kauai police said.

Police said around 12:40 a.m., the first vehicle struck a utility pole near Koloa Road and flipped over. The 18-year-old male driver of the Nissan pickup was transported by police to the Wilcox Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The 15-year-old female occupant did not report any injuries.

The driver of the second vehicle, identified as 18-year-old Keisha Shimatsu, apparently lost control of the vehicle and drove off a cliff, police said. The front passenger, a 15-year old male from Makaweli, was ejected from the car and died at the scene. Another male passenger, age 16, experienced non-life threatening injuries. The third passenger in the Toyota, an 18-year-old female, was medevaced to the Queen's Medical Center.

Shimatsu was treated for minor injuries. She was then arrested for first-degree negligent homicide and two counts of first-degree negligent injury. Shimatsu was released pending investigation.

Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash. Police are still investigating.