A one-car crash that critically injured a woman and closed H-1 Freeway's airport viaduct for six hours Wednesday night was no accident, police said yesterday.

Police arrested a 32-year-old man for investigation of assault, saying he kicked the steering wheel during an argument with his wife, causing the car to hit a barrier and roll over several times. His wife, 28, was driving the car. She was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

The woman's left arm was nearly severed, police said. Her husband was also treated for injuries and released.

Police arrested the man later at a location outside the hospital.

The crash happened about 7:45 p.m. Wednesday on the freeway's west-bound lanes, one-tenth of a mile east of the airport off-ramp, Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii said yesterday.

"The ensuing investigation showed that actually there was a domestic argument in the vehicle," Fujii said. "The woman's husband kicked the steering wheel during the argument, which caused the driver to lose control.

"The vehicle went all the way across the freeway, hit the medial on the left side of the freeway ... which caused the vehicle to flip over three or four times."

The husband was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, Fujii said.

The man was in custody last night and charges were pending. Second-degree assault is a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

The freeway was closed until 2:10 a.m.

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.