Victim of fatal Kunia crash is remembered as father figure
COURTESY TIFFANY ALVARADO
Jose Molina
Jose Molina was identified by family today as the driver who died in a Kunia Road crash that also killed a woman in her 30s and injured a young man.
“He was a humble, loving, caring individual,” said his sister, Tiffany Alvarado, by phone today. “Everybody came before him. His family was his No. 1.”
Glen Escobido saw the driver run a red light at an intersection on Kunia Road near Schofield Barracks.
He said the driver stopped behind other cars at the light, but then went around them in the left turn lane and drove through the intersection. He initially thought the driver was fleeing from police.
After continuing to drive, Escobido came upon the crash and realized it was the same vehicle that ran the red light.
He stopped to help and witnesses told him the driver had passed three cars in the oncoming lane, then swerved back into the lane to avoid an oncoming car and lost control. The car was sliding sideways, flipped and slid on its roof. Good Samaritans tried to right the vehicle to get the driver and a woman out.
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Police said excessive speed was a factor in the crash at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday near Hawaii Country Club. Traffic investigators said the driver of a 2005 Nissan sedan was traveling south and moving into the oncoming lane of traffic to try to overtake other vehicles.
The driver swerved back to avoid an oncoming car, lost control, hit a guardrail and flipped the car an unknown number of times, police said.
The driver and a female passenger died at the scene, police said. A 19-year-old man also in the vehicle was taken to the hospital in serious condition, an Emergency Medical Services report said.
The crash brought the 36th and 37th traffic fatalities on Oahu this year, compared with 32 at this time in 2015.
Molina, of Pearl City, attended Leilehua High School and was the oldest of three children. He turned 32 Thursday.
Alvarado said her older brother was her oldest son’s father figure for most of her son’s life. On Wednesday he visited her son, Tre, when he turned 13 and sang him “Happy Birthday.”
Molina would come to her house in Waipio to help when she called and talk with her son if Tre was having trouble.
In addition, Molina took her son fishing, to the park and to play football.
She described Molina as funny and humble and said he enjoyed working on cars.
She visited the crash site today to be close to the place where “his soul” departed.
“I just wanted to feel him,” she said. “I love him and I want him back.”
Scores of people were there paying tribute to Molina and the other victim, a longtime friend of Molina’s.
She said friends brought flowers and set up a memorial near the scene, where Alvarado saw stains from the crash still on the road.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. She declined to comment about the crash.
Besides his sister, Molina is survived by a younger brother, seven nieces and nephews, and his parents.
“He was always there for me whenever I needed him,” Alvarado said. “He was my best friend.”
22 responses to “Victim of fatal Kunia crash is remembered as father figure”
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So are we to assume Molina was the speeder weaving in and out of traffic, caused his own death, his passengers and injured the 19 year old? The article is not clear on Molina’s involvement.
That is a safe assumption since no other car was involved.
He put everyone first in his life, yet said “F-U” to all of the others on the road he endangered by his irresponsible driving. Not to mention his 1 dead and 1 critically injured passengers.
I do feel sorry for his parents as you never want to have a child pass before you do. He made some mistakes–big ones–here. But sounds like his family was close.
Yeah, he could have killed innocent drivers on the roadways.
Sounds like this guy was high on something or intoxicated if he wanted to drive like he was playing a Grand Theft Auto game.
That road has been the scene of some pretty horrific crashes over the years. It is very scenic, but I avoid it at all costs for this very reason.
But….it’s not the road. It’s the idiots who drive on the road.
Gotta call out the Hawaiian Priests to bless the roadway out there.
Kahuna can do very little to prevent human failures.
I don’t know the individual, but by the description of his driving behavior it was pretty selfish of him to pull into the oncoming lane–illegally. He then went through the red light–illegally. He then tried passed more cars–illegally. Then seeing the oncoming car he tried and failed to jam back into the Southbound lanes and lost control of his vehicle. Sounds more like ainokeaidowhatilike feeling entitled and full of ego and attitude than humble and one who put others before him. Instead he put himself first, was impatient–if not arrogant–and committed several blatant driving offenses–all by his own choice. Very selfish, it seems, and that selfishness cost him his life and that of his passenger.
Father figure? You got to be kidding me; on what planet?
“A Father figure” ????? … would not endanger the lives of others … what was he teaching his 13 yr old nephew ????? ,,, this article makes is sound like he was a victim when he took the life of another person …
Shoddy article Rob Shikina !!!!! expected more from a journalist from The Star Advertiser …
What do you expect coming out of the Liberal Media? The only person they’ll write bad about is on TheDonald! lol, deserved or not
But– but— but “He was a good kid”.
Father figure? Immature. Reckless. Selfish. Those words seem to better describe this man.
Enough of the human interest stories on the driver who killed a passenger and seriously injured another.
Will we see a story on the victims?
Hey Rob Shikina: Mr. Molina is NOT a humble, loving, caring individual, and father figure. He is the direct cause of a murder and suicide by motor vehicle, and assault and battery causing serious injury to another.
Sadly you took another life with you Jose. What elevated your testosterone level on this day to drive so crazy? Not a role model by any means but your family will miss you every birthday party and Christmas. Rest in peace.
I don’t understand when someone takes their own life and yet someone else’s, they are a good person, always there for everyone. This is so sad for the woman and the other passenger. He must have been drinking or maybe had to go to the restroom. To take another person life is not someone who cares about people.
Okay. Enough. Let the family grieve in peace. You have all made your point.