Speed is a possible factor in a head-on collision near Kawela Bay that sent a 24-year-old Haleiwa man to the hospital in critical condition and seriously injured two other people, traffic investigators said.

Police said a 22-year-old Haleiwa woman driving a silver 2000 Toyota 2-door sedan, speeding north on Kamehameha Highway near Hanopu Street, lost control of the Toyota and veered into the south-bound lane and hit a white 2008 Ford Mustang at about 7:04 p.m. Wednesday.

The 24-year-old man, a passenger in the Toyota, suffered critical head and internal injuries, police said.

The Toyota driver and a 37-year-old Kailua man, the Mustang driver, suffered serious head and internal injuries. Paramedics took all three to the Queen’s Medical Center.
Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said firefighters were called at 7:06 p.m. to extricate a person from a vehicle and got the person out about 7:30 p.m.

All three were wearing seat belts.

Police closed Kamehameha Highway in both directions while they investigated the crash.