Jose Molina was identified by family Sunday as the driver who died in a Kunia Road crash that also killed a woman in her 30s and injured a young man.
“He was a humble, loving, caring individual,” said his sister, Tiffany Alvarado, by phone Sunday. “Everybody came before him. His family was his No. 1.”
Police said excessive speed was a factor in the crash at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday near Hawaii Country Club. Traffic investigators said the driver of a 2005 Nissan sedan was traveling south and moving into the oncoming lane of traffic to try to overtake other vehicles.
The driver swerved back to avoid an oncoming car, lost control, hit a guardrail and flipped the car an unknown number of times, police said.
The driver and a female passenger died at the scene, police said. A 19-year-old man also in the vehicle was taken to the hospital in serious condition, an Emergency Medical Services report said.
The crash brought the 36th and 37th traffic fatalities on Oahu this year, compared with 32 at this time in 2015.
Molina, of Pearl City, attended Leilehua High School and was the oldest of three children. He turned 32 Thursday.
Alvarado said her older brother was her oldest son’s father figure for most of her son’s life. On Wednesday he visited her son, Tre, when he turned 13 and sang him “Happy Birthday.”
Molina would come to her house in Waipio to help when she called and talk with her son if Tre was having trouble.
In addition, Molina took her son fishing, to the park and to play football.
She described Molina as funny and humble and said he enjoyed working on cars.
She visited the crash site Sunday to be close to the place where “his soul” departed.
“I just wanted to feel him,” she said. “I love him and I want him back.”
Scores of people were there paying tribute to Molina and the other victim, a longtime friend of Molina’s.
She said friends brought flowers and set up a memorial near the scene, where Alvarado saw stains from the crash still on the
road.
“It was heartbreaking,” she said. She had no information about the crash.
Besides his sister, Molina is survived by a younger brother, seven nieces and nephews, and his parents.
“He was always there for me whenever I needed him,” Alvarado said. “He was my best friend.”