Honolulu police are asking for possible witnesses to come forward after popular playwright and children's author Lisa Matsumoto was killed early Friday morning while driving her car on the wrong side of the H1 Freeway.
The 43 year old died at the Queen’s Medical Center after colliding with another car at 3:32 a.m. about a hundred yards before the Kalihi Street overpass. A 36 year old Waipahu woman was the lone occupant of the other vehicle. She was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
According to police, Matsumoto was driving a green 1997 Toyota Camry town-bound on the lane closest to the concrete median when she hit the driver of a black 1998 Toyota Corolla, who was on the correct side of the freeway headed Waianae-bound.
Police have yet to determine if speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.
Maj. Susan Dowsett of HPD’s Traffic Division says at least two motorists called 911 to report a driver on the wrong side of the H1.
"She was probably on the freeway for a period of time due to the length of time that people had to call in," said Dowsett.
Police blocked all Waianae bound lanes of the H1 at the Houghtailing off-ramp while investigators sifted through wreckage and searched for possible clues. All west bound lanes were reopened to traffic just after 6 a.m.
The nearest freeway exit where Matsumoto may have made a wrong turn is Likelike, but police doubt that's where she got onto the Waianae bound lanes.
"If anybody has any more information or any other follow-up or maybe they saw her get on the freeway - that would be helpful to our investigation," Dowsett said.
While wrong-way crashes are considered rare there have been four other such incidents on Oahu freeways in the past two-and-a-half years:
In June of 2006, 33 year old Janice Madamba was killed on the H3 after she was struck by a drunken Montana tourist driving on the wrong side of the freeway.
In March of 2006, 20 year old Renee Champ, who was eight months pregnant and highly intoxicated, died after getting on the wrong side of the Moanalua Freeway. Champ collided with 40 year old Chikako Iwakiri, who was also killed.
In June of 2005, 80 year old Rickey Isaka died after going the wrong way on the Likelike Highway. Speed and alcohol were not factors in that crash.
In April of 2005, Bradley Lopes killed the 28 year old driver of another car, Jeremy Villanueva, after Lopes headed onto oncoming traffic on the H1. Police say Lopes was drunk and high on ecstasy. Three other people in the car with Villanueva, including a one year old boy, were also injured
Anyone with information about Friday morning’s crash involving Matsumoto is asked to call HPD’s Traffic Division at 529-3499. Police are investigating the incident as a negligent injury case.
Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.
