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COURTESY HAWAII NEWS NOW
Police believe speed and alcohol were factors in the fatal crash of this van on H-1 early this morning.
COURTESY PHOTO
Gemma Yanuaria, of Waipahu, holds a photo of her son Ervin, 20, who died in a drunken driving accident this morning.
COURTESY PHOTO
Ervin Yanuaria, 20, died as a result of injuries suffered in a drunken driving accident this morning on the H-1 Freeway.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on a negligent homicide charge today after the van he was driving flipped on the H-1 Freeway early this morning, killing one of his six passengers.
A 20 year-old passenger was taken to Queen’s Medical Center in extremely critical condition, where he later died. The Medical Examiner’s Office identified him as Ervin Yanuaria, 20, of Waipahu.
The driver, also from Waipahu, was arrested after receiving treatment at Queen’s.
Lt. David Nilsen of Honolulu Police Department’s Traffic Division said it appeared all those in the van were friends from Waipahu.
Police said alcohol and speed were factors in the one-car accident. Five other passengers were in the hospital in serious condition.
The accident occurred at 1:56 a.m. on the H-1 Freeway, 188 feet west of the Kaonohi overpass, police said.
The 1995 white Toyota Sienna van was traveling eastbound when the 19-year-old driver lost control of the vehicle, hit the embankment and flipped over several times before stopping under the overpass, according to police.
Four of the six male passengers — ages 18, 20, 19, and 20 — were listed in serious condition at Kaiser Medical Center. Another 20-year-old male passenger is at Queen’s in serious condition.
None of the seven people in the van appeared to have been wearing seat belts, police said.
Police closed all eastbound H-1 lanes at the Pearl City off-ramp for nearly an hour, diverting traffic onto Moanalua Road, and back onto the freeway from Aiea.
By 4:30 a.m., only the right-hand and shoulder lanes were closed, and shortly after 5 a.m., all lanes were reopened, police said.
