Fatal victims ID’d in traffic accidents

The city Medical Examiner’s Office on Monday identified two people who died in separate accidents recently.

Ralph Kahoonei, 58, died in a fiery car crash in Kapo­lei on Dec. 29. Cause of death is pending further tests.

The crash was reported at about 6:30 a.m. at Kunehi and Kukulu streets, a few blocks from Kapo­lei High School. The victim died despite attempts by witnesses to save him. He was from Wai­anae.

Witnesses said the driver was speeding down the residential street, hit a concrete barrier and ended up in a canal. No other vehicles were involved.

On Jan. 2, Elizabeth Malland, who had no local address, was killed when she was crossing North Nimitz Highway at Kalihi Street. Police said the victim was not in a crosswalk.

Malland, 48, was walking against the traffic light when she was struck at 8 p.m. She was taken in critical condition to the Queen’s Medical Center, where she died.

Authorities said Malland was homeless. The cause of death was multiple blunt trauma. The incident was classified as a traffic death. She was Oahu’s first pedestrian fatality in 2015.