Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Thursday, November 21, 2024 76° Today's Paper


Top News

2 killed in Kunia car crash identified

COURTESY TIFFANY ALVARADO

Jose Molina

The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday identified the two people killed Saturday in a one-car crash on Kunia Road as Jose Molina, 32, of Pearl City and Janell Fiori, 33, of Kapolei.

Both died of blunt force injuries of the head and torso.

Police said excessive speed was a factor in the crash at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday near Hawaii Country Club. A 19-year-old male passenger was also taken in serious condition to a hospital. Molina’s sister said Molina was the driver and Fiori was a longtime friend.

Motorist 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 said he initially thought the driver was fleeing from police.

After driving on, Escobido came upon the crash and realized it was the same vehicle that had run the red light.

He stopped to help, and witnesses told him the driver had passed three cars in the oncoming lane, then swerved back to avoid an oncoming car. The driver lost control, and the car went sideways, flipped and slid on its roof.

Police said the 2005 Nissan sedan hit a guardrail and flipped.

Good Samaritans tried to right the vehicle to get the driver and a woman out, Escobido said.

Molina attended Leilehua High School and was the oldest of three children. His 32nd birthday was Thursday.

The crash resulted in the 36th and 37th traffic fatalities on Oahu this year, compared with 32 at this time last year.

3 responses to “2 killed in Kunia car crash identified”

  1. copperwire9 says:

    What a tragic waste.

  2. Kawipoo says:

    In a previous article it was stated he was a father figure. Somebody who is impatient, immature and does not care about the life of others is not a father figure. Darwin strikes again.

Leave a Reply