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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2009

Likelike crash victims were drunk

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Undated photo 22-year-old Amelia Albertsen, who was identified today as the third victim in yesterday's crash on Likelike Highway.

Photo courtesy of KHON2

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The driver in the Likelike crash yesterday had a blood alcohol level of 0.225, or nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08, the medical examiner said.

The driver James Krzywonski, 30, and his two passengers, Keone Cardenas, 25, and 22-year-old Amelia Albertsen, died at the scene yesterday.

Police said a 2001 Audi, driven by Krzywonski, was traveling toward Kaneohe on Likelike Highway at 100 mph. Krzywonski lost control on a turn before the tunnel, and the car slammed into a concrete barrier at the entrance to the tunnel.

Cardenas had a blood alcohol level of 0.095 and Albertsen had a level of 0.214, according to the medical examiner.

Police said today they plan to step up enforcement for speeding, as well as drunk and hazardous driving, following the spate of traffic deaths this week.Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu said at a press conference today that the department will redirect patrol officers to help traffic enforcement.

Putzulu asked motorists to slow down and urged everyone talk to friends, family, neighbors and co-workers about driving safer, staying out of a car driven by someone who is intoxicated and preventing drinkers from driving.

Five people have been killed in the last week, including four yesterday — three in a high-speed car crash on Likelike Highway and another in a motorcycle accident on Farrington Highway. A speeding motorcyclist was killed in a freeway crash over the weekend.

Police have said that speeding was a factor in nine of the 15 crashes this year involving fatalities.

Early today, the medical examiner's office has released the name of the third victim in yesterday's early morning crash at the Wilson Tunnel.

The other two victims in the Likelike Highway crash were identified yesterday by family and friends.