A 37-year-old Japanese national was arrested this afternoon in connection with a traffic accident in Kailua Sunday that killed one man and critically injured another.

The dead man was identified today as Eric Souza, 46, of Pearl City.

Jiro Matsunaga of Tokyo was arrested at 5:25 p.m. at a Waikiki hotel on one count of third-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury. Third-degree negligent homicide is a misdemeanor, while negligent injury is a class C felony.

Matsunaga was booked at the main police station and released pending further investigation.

Matsunaga is accused of being the driver of a rental van that veered suddenly from the right lane to the left lane of Kailua Road near Uluoa Street in an attempt to make a U-turn. As the van attempted to make the turn, two motorcycles, which were among five heading in the same direction, slammed into the van about 2:10 p.m., police said.

Souza was taken to Castle Medical Center, where he died. The driver of the second motorcycle, a 43-year-old Kalihi man, remained in critical condition today at The Queen's Medical Center.

Police said neither motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. The crash remains under investigation and police are looking into whether speed was a factor on the part of the motorcyclists.

Souza's death was the 24th traffic fatality on O'ahu so far this year. Nine of those killed were operating motorcycles.