Waimanalo, HI : Kaneohe woman, 19, dies and two other injured after a single car crash in Waimanalo on Wednesday morning, April 15, 2015

A 19-year-old Kaneohe woman died and two others were hospitalized in serious condition after a single car crash in Waimanalo Wednesday morning that may have involved texting.

The driver of the 2003 Honda Civic involved in the crash was identified by a relative of one of the occupants as 20-year-old Chanel Franco. Tyler Parker, 21, was her front seat passenger, and Jessica Lum, 19, was in the backseat. According to police, no one in the car was wearing a seat belt and Lum was thrown from the car.

"The vehicle was traveling southeast on Hihimanu Street when it lost control, veered off the roadway, hit a utility pole, spun around and ended up on the grassy shoulder," said Lt. Carlene Lau, with HPD's Traffic Division. "There were three female occupants in the vehicle, but only one was ejected and she died at the scene."

Erin Brodish was having lunch at nearby Waimanalo District Park when she heard the car strike the utility pole. When she approached the scene just moments later, Franco allegedly admitted that she had been texting before the crash.

"She kept saying over and over that it was her fault (and) she's so sorry," said Brodish. "She was texting and something fell on the floor of the car and she reached over to pick it up and saw a car coming toward her. She swerved to avoid it and I think she overcompensated and hit the telephone pole."

Police closed Hihimanu Street between Waikupanaha Street and Ahiki Street while officers investigated the crash. The road was reopened at around 4:15 p.m.

Investigators say speed and alcohol are also possible factors in the crash. Lau said a negligent homicide case has been opened against the driver, who was ordered to submit to a blood draw at the hospital.

Ironically, April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"There are three types of distracted driving," Lance Rae, a spokesperson for the Distracted Driving Public Awareness Program funded by the Hawaii Department of Transportation, told KITV4. "The first one is visual, taking your eyes off the road. It's manual, taking your hands off the wheel and it's cognitive, taking your brain off the road. Sending a text message takes all three of those distractions."

There have been 17 traffic deaths on Oahu so far this year, compared to 21 during the same time last year.

Source :
Speed, alcohol, and texting possible factors in deadly Waimanalo crash