One man died and a woman was seriously injured when their car went off the road on the Likelike highway last week. The crash occurred at approximately 3 a.m. and the vehicle appeared to have gone up an embankment and then flipped over. The man, the driver, was ejected from the vehicle and dead at the accident scene. The woman was apparently in the back seat and was asleep at the time of the crash.
The Honolulu police were investigating the car accident, but indicated they did not believe that the crash was caused by speeding. The new report states that it was unknown if alcohol was a contributing factor to the crash. The man apparently was ejected from the vehicle due to his not wearing his seatbelt.
The couple was returning home after fishing near Hau’ula, and given the late hour of the crash, fatigue could have played a role in the car accident. Late night driving carries many additional hazards, from reduced visibility and animal on the road to the risk posed by other drivers who may be intoxicated.
Drowsy driving a significant problem, and occurs when a driver in need of sleep continues driving in spite of their fatigue. This often leads to single car accidents, like this one, but it can also cause multiple car accidents, when a driver runs into a vehicle at a stopped at a light, or crosses the centerline and strikes another car.
It is always better to take more time and get the rest you need, rather than proceeding when you feel your head dropping and your eyes closing. Whatever reason he may have had for attempting to drive home that night was not worth the price of his life.
Hawaii News Now, “Likelike Highway reopened after deadly car accident,” Ian Scheuring, August 23, 2013