Honolulu, HI : Friends identify 3rd Kapolei crash victim on Monday, November 28th, 2016
A roadside memorial on Farrington highway just outside of Malanai subdivision is growing.
Classmates of the three crash victims killed Monday night, stopped by to drop off flowers.
Others brought some of their friends’ favorite juices and snacks.
Tokai College students identified the owner of the car in the crash, though they don't know if he was driving.
“His name is Yohei Tanaka," said Yuka Nakamura.
They said Tanaka is from the northern prefecture of Japan.
Remembering another friend, Takumi Yamamoto, brought a smile to their faces.
"He liked to travel and go shopping. So, he liked to buy new sneakers and he liked to go hiking," said Ryo Kuribayashi.
They said the other victim, Norihito Shigeta had only lived in Hawaii since April.
The three young men were said to be roommates in a home, not far from the crash.
The Nissan convertible hit a tree head on splitting the car and leaving a debris field of at least 40 feet.
Residents who live across the street recall hearing a large boom, but felt helpless to do anything.
"I was pretty speechless. My brother and I were like, what should we do?" recalled Brice Cristobal.
They did see a neighbor run across the street after hearing the crash.
He is believed to be an Army doctor who was rushing over to see if he could help.
"He jumped a retaining wall and then went over to see what happened,"
said Cristobol.
The fatal crash attracted the attention of Fuji Television.
The crew was on the way to Tokai International College when they came across the crash scene.
The victims' friends went away with a sobering thought:
"We have to drive carefully and do not speed," said Kurabayashi.
The students said family of the victims began arriving from Japan Wednesday. There are plans for a service, they just don't know when.
Source :
Friends identify 3rd Kapolei crash victim