Four people were killed on O'ahu roadways yesterday, including three in a car that was going 100 mph before it slammed into the Wilson Tunnel on Likelike Highway. The driver in the crash was known as a risk taker who had been urged to stop speeding.

The fourth fatality was a motorcyclist in his 40s, who lost control of his bike while turning in front of a school bus, spilled and was run over by the bus on Farrington Highway in Ma'ili. There were no children on the school bus and its driver was uninjured, police said.

The deadly day brought to 17 the number of traffic fatalities on O'ahu this year — compared with nine at the same time in 2008 — and spurred police to plead with drivers to slow down.

"Speed kills," said Maj. Frank Fujii, spokesman for the police department. "This is just a waste of life."

Police said of the 15 crashes this year involving fatalities, nine have involved speed. Meanwhile, four of the nine fatal crashes that occurred over the same period in 2008 had speed as a factor.

The driver in the early morning crash on the Kane'ohe-bound lanes of Likelike Highway was identified as 30-year-old James Krzywonski of Waialua.

Also killed in the crash was 25-year-old Keone Cardenas, family members said.

The third victim was 22-year-old Amaya Albertsen, KHON-2 reported.

Police said Cardenas was in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash and Albertsen in the back.

The three, two of whom worked at Haleiwa Joe's restaurant in Kane'ohe, were heading back to the Windward side after celebrating a birthday in town with co-workers and other friends. Co-workers came upon the crash on their way back from town.

Krzywonski's brother, Mike, called the deaths "senseless."

"It's unfortunate that something that was so avoidable had to involve other people as well," said Mike Krzywonski of Hale'iwa.

Those close to James Krzywonski also said they had urged him to stop speeding and take fewer risks. According to court records, Krzywonski had received some 30 traffic violations since 2001, including at least five speeding tickets.

The Likelike crash happened about 3:50 a.m. yesterday, when Krzywonski, heading Kane'ohe-bound, apparently lost control on a turn before the tunnel and crashed into a concrete barrier. His 2001 Audi went airborne, taking down a sign and hitting the rock wall before the tunnel.

The car landed in the left lane at the tunnel entrance.

Krzywonski was traveling at 100 mph when he crashed, police said.

It's unclear whether alcohol and drugs were also factors in the crash.

All three victims died at the scene, and it took firefighters nearly an hour to free their bodies from the mangled sports car.

First responders spent some five hours investigating and clearing the crash site yesterday. A special team was called in to clear fluids and hazardous materials from lanes before the road was reopened at 10:30 a.m.

CRASH SITE MEMORIAL

Yesterday afternoon, a handful of family members and friends of Cardenas gathered near the crash site on Likelike Highway to leave flowers, balloons and stuffed animals. They also left messages on a tree near the entrance of the tunnel that said, "Rest in Peace" and "We love you."

Jennell Edwards, Cardenas' sister, said she feels lost at the thought of living life without her big brother. "He'd always try to protect us," she said.

Cardenas was a broiler cook at Haleiwa Joe's in Kane'ohe, where Krzywonski was also a waiter.

Tim York, 38, one of the owners of Haleiwa Joe's at Haiku Gardens, said his employees called him right after the crash happened to tell him that two of his employees had been killed.

York said the three in the car involved in the crash had gone out with friends and others from the restaurant to celebrate a birthday.

Krzywonski had worked at the Kane'ohe restaurant since it opened nine years ago and Cardenas worked there for about two years.

York, 38, said he was shocked and devastated by the deaths.

"Both of these guys are great guys," York said. "They're fantastic employees, fantastic people, very responsible."

York added he was shocked after hearing reports about the crash. "It was totally out of character for James," he said. "I've known James for nine years now. He's somebody I trust with my restaurant (when) I go out of town on business."

GOOD INTENTIONS

Krzywonski's www.myspace.com page is filled with photos of him skateboarding, diving with sharks, surfing and driving fast cars.

His brother said Krzywonski moved to the Islands about a decade ago, after growing up in Texas. Mike Krzywonski, 37, said he last saw his brother on Monday, when the two went skateboarding together. He said his brother was talking about adopting a "healthier routine" instead of "staying out late."

Krzywonski, his brother said, had recently joined a tennis club, was running more and trying to swim in the mornings at Waimea Bay. "He was using that as a motivator," he said. "That's what his intentions were."

Cardenas was raised in Kahalu'u and comes from a close family, York said, adding that he was a fun-loving guy who enjoyed life.

"He was very passionate about what he did," he said. "He had tattoos on his knuckles that said 'cook food.' "

Cardenas also enjoyed singing and song writing, said Beau Haygood, a friend who shared musical interests and lived with Cardenas for more than a year.

Cardenas had a dry wit that some people wouldn't always get, Haygood said, adding that he saw his friend just three days ago when they went bowling together.

"He was friends with everyone and everyone loved him," Haygood said, through tears. "I moved here three years ago, and he's the first friend I made and he introduced me to all my other friends."

Haygood cursed the timing of Cardenas' death, saying the man was doing things to turn his life around.

"In the last two months he was getting in shape," he said. "He was not drinking. He was working out every day. He was getting his act together."

Last night, co-workers and relatives of the victims gathered at Haleiwa Joe's to pray, eat and remember the friends they'd lost.

Mike Stangel, pastor of North Shore Christian Fellowship in Hale'iwa, led the group in a prayer.

"There were a lot of tears," he said afterward.

Stangel, who knew Kryzwonski and his family, said he last saw Krzywonski a few weeks ago at church.

Before the private gathering yesterday at Haleiwa Joe's, Stangel met with Krzywonski's sister and other family members.

"They really feel badly for the other people involved. Let's face it: The circumstances are horrendous," he said. "They know he's in heaven, but that this is not the way to get there. They would like people to glean something from this. "