Driver in truck crash that killed 2 was drunk, medical examiners say
The driver who lost control of a pickup truck resulting in a double-fatal crash on the H-1 freeway this weekend had a blood alcohol content more than 2.5 times the legal limit, the Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office said .
While the woman’s name was not released pending notification of family, an autopsy determined she died of cranial cerebral injuries sustained in the crash and another significant condition was acute alcohol intoxication, the office said.
William Goodhue, acting chief medical examiner, said the woman had a blood alcohol content of 0.215. The legal limit is 0.08. No street drugs were found in her system, he said.
Police said the 21-year-old Waipahu woman was driving a 2006 Dodge pickup toward Waianae when she lost control near the Kualakai Parkway offramp about 6:20 a.m. Saturday. The pickup climbed the right shoulder and overturned with three people inside the cab.
A 27-year-old Waianae man also died in the crash, and a 15-year-old boy — the only person wearing a seat belt — was taken to the hospital in fair condition, authorities said.
The Medical Examiner’s Office identified the 27-year-old man as John Herzog of Waianae. An employee at Turf Grass Hawaii said Herzog was a hard worker who had been with the company for about a year and will be missed.
Don't miss out on what's happening!
Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!
The office said Herzog died of cranial cerebral injuries sustained in the crash.