1 dead, 1 critically injured after 1-car crash in Waianae

One man has died and another man was transported to a hospital in critical condition after they were involved in a crash early today on Waianae Valley Road.

Friends at the crash site identified the man who died as James Gouveia.

Over a dozen firefighters responded to the crash at about 3:35 a.m. near 85-443 Waianae Valley Road. When they arrived, they observed a heavily damaged white car on its roof approximately 10 feet below in a drainage ditch off of the roadway.

Honolulu Fire Spokesman Capt. David Jenkins said two men were pinned inside the vehicle.

Firefighters extricated Gouveia who was in the driver’s seat. He was pronounced dead at the scene. A 34-year-old passenger also was extricated from the car before paramedics transported him to a hospital in critical condition.

Resident Masi Maugaotega who lives near the crash site was sleeping at the time of the crash. “I heard a loud screech and a really loud bang after that.”

“That’s what woke me up…that loud screech and bang.”

He walked outside when a neighbor told him the vehicle was in the canal. “This is sad,” Maugaotega said while he carried his 1-year-old son, Elijah, as he stood near the crash site while police conducted an investigation.

Gouveia’s family members and friends arrived at the scene, emotionally distraught. His girlfriend, Hiilani Reinhardt, who also arrived after the crash occurred, is three months pregnant with Gouveia’s child.