Waialua man arrested in fatal crash near Wahiawa

Courtesy: Paul Javier

A Jeep caught fire after a collision on Wilikina Drive at about 12:31 a.m. this morning.

Honolulu police arrested a 29-year-old Waialua man in connection with a deadly motor vehicle collision near Wahiawa early Sunday morning.

According to police, a speeding vehicle crashed into parked cars waiting for North Shore roads to reopen during this weekend’s tsunami warning. The man who died was seated in a Jeep when it was struck by the speeding vehicle. According to witnesses, the Jeep burst into flames after the impact.

The suspect and a 43-year-old woman who was in a vehicle in front of the Jeep at the time of the collision were taken to the hospital in serious condition. Four others in a fourth vehicle were taken to an area hospital in good condition.

The collision occurred about 12:20 a.m.

Police closed Wilikina Drive from Kamananui Road to Kaukonahua Road for several hours while they investigated the crash. The road reopened about 8 a.m. 

Police arrested the suspect on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide at the Queen’s Medical Center around 8:40 p.m. He also faces two contempt charges.

Paul Javier, who took photos of the burning Jeep involved in the crash, said a vehicle traveling at high speed hit a vehicle that was apparently part of a group of cars waiting for Kaukonahua Road to re-open to the North Shore.

It's the second deadly crash in the area since Thursday afternoon, when one person died and four others were injured in a three-vehicle crash near the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Plantation Road.