Waikiki crash involving HPD officer caught on surveillance video

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The entrance of a Waikiki McDonald’s was smashed after a crash involving a Honolulu police officer and another driver Tuesday night.

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It was all caught on surveillance video.

Just after 11 p.m., a black vehicle was seen heading west on Kuhio Avenue. Closely behind was an HPD SUV with lights and sirens on.

HPD confirmed the officer was responding to a robbery call, and was traveling in the bus only lane. The black vehicle moved into that lane as the officer tried to pass, and the two collided.

After spinning out, the black vehicle came to rest on one side of the road, and the HPD vehicle slammed into the McDonald’s entrance.

The front of the building was blocked off Wednesday as crews worked to fix the damage.

“We heard a big boom, and we came out on our patio, and we looked down and there was a cop car that was sitting right into McDonald’s,” Tucson visitor Nancy Kilmer said.

The black vehicle was not involved in the initial robbery call, HPD said.

The damage to the building, and both vehicles was extensive, as seen in video provided by HHHNewz.

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“Just based on the shred of evidence that we have, it looks like he’s going a little too fast and just made an error in judgment there, which he’s gonna live down for the rest of his career,” retired HPD Deputy Chief John McCarthy said.

McCarthy added that heightened caution needs to be exercised in moments like this, especially in areas like Waikiki that are often crowded.

“The problem is, I think it’s the adrenaline that kicks in. ‘I wanna get the bad guy. I wanna catch the bad guy.’ And that’s what we want. We all want that, but it’s gotta be done properly, safely, within the policy, within the means,” McCarthy said.

HPD said in a statement: “It appears the officer was following proper policy and procedure, and there was no pursuit in this instance. The collision is under investigation.”

As the incident is internally reviewed, McCarthy says accidents like these can be costly.

“The officers don’t enjoy it. The administration doesn’t enjoy it, and, in a case like this, where we’re gonna go out of pocket, I’m sure the taxpayers aren’t gonna enjoy it either,” he said.

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Only minor injuries were reported for both drivers and no arrests were made.