KAILUA, Hawaii (Island News) — A 16-year-old girl was killed in a single-car crash on the Pali Highway early Thursday morning.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:09 a.m. as the driver, identified as Kalena Abelmann, was traveling northbound at a high speed. Authorities said she lost control of the vehicle, striking the right concrete barrier, which caused the car to become airborne and drop about 50 feet into a ravine.
Upon landing, the vehicle struck an embankment and caught fire. Witnesses reported that the impact ejected Abelmann from the car, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials confirmed she was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) arrived at the scene at 6:15 a.m. and contained the fire by 6:22 a.m. HFD crews discovered Abelmann unconscious in the brush below the embankment and rescued her using a rope system.
Investigators from the Honolulu Police Department are considering speed as a contributing factor to the crash. It remains unclear whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.
This tragic event marks Oahu's 20th traffic fatality of the year, compared to 38 at the same time in 2022. A GoFundMe page has been established to support her family during this difficult time.