Fatal Kalihi crash highlights dangers of impaired driving during ‘100 Deadliest Days of Summer’

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- A deadly crash in broad daylight on Moanalua Road is renewing concerns about impaired driving as Hawaii enters the busy summer travel season. Police said speed and alcohol appear to have been contributing factors in a multi-vehicle collision Friday afternoon that left one man dead and several others seriously injured. According to the Honolulu Police Department, the crash happened around 3:30 p.m. on June 6 in the Kalihi area. Investigators said a 22-year-old driver was traveling eastbound on Moanalua Road at a high rate of speed with four passengers in his vehicle when he sideswiped another car, lost control and crashed into multiple vehicles. A 24-year-old male passenger was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver was transported to a hospital in critical condition. Two passengers were taken to the hospital in serious condition, while another passenger and a third driver involved in the crash suffered less severe injuries. The occupants of one of the vehicles struck by the speeding car were not injured. The crash marked Oahu's 18th traffic fatality of 2026. At this time last year, Oahu had recorded 31 traffic deaths. While overall traffic fatalities and DUI arrests are down compared to last year, safety advocates say summer remains one of the most dangerous times of year on Hawaii's roads. "That stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day is one of the busiest times of year," said Sarah Osofsky, a victim and program services specialist with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). "Especially in Hawaii with graduation season, it really starts it off." Osofsky said summer celebrations often involve alcohol, increasing the risk of impaired driving. "We tend to be more festive during that time of year, and festivity often includes alcohol," she said. "People need to just think and make a plan." According to Honolulu police data, officers have made 632 DUI arrests so far this year, averaging about four arrests per day. Fifty of those arrests have occurred since Memorial Day. While that is lower than the 807 DUI arrests recorded during the same period in 2025, advocates say the problem remains widespread. "It's just so tragic, and it's one of those things that is completely preventable," Osofsky said. "These people, these families, none of them needed to have experienced this." Honolulu EMS Director Dr. Jim Ireland said first responders continue to see alcohol-related crashes on a regular basis despite the availability of alternatives such as rideshare services, taxis and Skyline. "I was hoping as rideshare became more accepted, popular and available, we would eliminate or greatly reduce impaired drivers due to alcohol and drugs," Ireland said. "But unfortunately, we are still seeing people killed, injured and permanently disabled from impaired drivers, whether it's due to alcohol or drugs." Ireland noted that serious impaired-driving crashes are more commonly seen late at night, making Friday afternoon's collision especially alarming. "Seeing them in the middle of the day, late afternoon, it still happens, but it's much more rare," Ireland said. "But it's definitely tragic." Both Ireland and Osofsky stressed that impaired-driving crashes are entirely preventable and urged people to plan ahead if they intend to drink. Osofsky pointed to programs such as Safe Ride Hawaii, which can arrange for volunteers to drive both an individual and their vehicle home safely. "If you know you're going to drink, plan ahead," she said. "An injured person is a lot more costly than a parking ticket." Police have not released additional information regarding potential charges in Friday's crash. The investigation remains ongoing.