Woman dead, 2 hurt as speeding car crashes in Waimanalo

One young woman was killed and two others were seriously injured after crashing in a speeding car late Wednesday morning in Waimanalo.

At about 11 a.m., a woman in her 20s from Waimanalo was driving southeast on Hihimanu Street in a silver Honda sedan when she lost control of the car, struck a utility pole and spun out, Honolulu police said. 

The back-seat passenger, a 19-year-old from Kaneohe, was ejected from the vehicle and was declared dead on arrival by emergency personnel.

The driver and her front-seat passenger, a woman in her 20s from Kaneohe, were treated by city paramedics and taken to a hospital in serious condition, police said.

None of the women were wearing seat belts, said police, who are also investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Police reopened Hihimanu Street between Waikupanaha and Ahiki streets around 4:15 p.m. after completing their investigation.

Erin Brodish, of Waimanalo, said she was at nearby Waimanalo District Park having lunch when she heard the crash and went to the scene along two other friends.

Brodish said the driver told her that she had been texting, bent down to pick something up, saw a van coming and swerved to avoid it when she hit the pole.