Around 11:15 Friday, police say the driver of this red Mustang was speeding Kaneohe bound on the H-3 freeway when he lost control right outside the Harano tunnel.
"The driver lost control of the vehicle, the vehicle lost control across both Kaneohe bound lanes of traffic striking the right concrete barrier," said Lt. David Nilsen, Honolulu Police Department.
The car, with California plates, came to rest inside the tunnel facing the wrong direction. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition where he later died.
"I have no other information on him other than he was a 39 year old male," said Lt. Nilsen.
HPD shut down all East bound lanes of the H-3 freeway. They did not say what may have led to this crash, but did say both local and Federal law enforcement agencies spent several hours investigating.
Sources say Federal agents were doing a surveillance operation and had been following the driver.
"We're fully investigating what all the facts were relating up to this and is currently under investigation," said Lt. Nilsen.
Sources say the task force was trying to find out where the driver may have been delivering drugs. That's when he apparently lost control and crashed.
"Again I cannot comment on that at this time," said Lt. Nilsen. "We're currently investigating that to determine exactly the circumstances that preceded this crash."
The crash scene spanned about 100-feet outside and inside the tunnel. Police say no one else was injured, and the driver was the lone occupant of the Mustang.
"We have several witnesses who have given us statements and we're following up on those statements in our investigation," said Lt. Nilsen.
The driver's name has not yet been released.
