Military Police Officer Joseph Florez-Gonzalez Was Drunk In Critical Crash

A passenger in the vehicle, also a Schofield soldier, was seriously injured when his side of the SUV was crushed as it crashed into a utility pole. The crash happened early Saturday morning on Kamehameha Highway near Whitmore Avenue.

Florez-Gonzales is a military police officer who passed out or fell asleep and has now been arrested for DUI and negligent injury.

The KHON report highlights what drinking and driving really means in human terms:

“This morning at about 530am an SUV south bound on Kamehameha Highway veered off the roadway into a utility pole,” Lt. Darren Izumo said.

The silver SUV crashed into the pole on the passenger side and it appears that the seat back failed – a major safety hazard in most automobiles – because the passenger’s seat was found in the rear of the car. Police report that:

“There were two occupants in there, the passenger was taken to Wahiawa General hospital in critical condition,” Lt. Izumo said.

The passenger was later taken to The Queens Medical Center for treatment…with life threatening injuries.

According to police he is a 24 year-old Schofield soldier.

“And the driver was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant,” Lt. Izumo said.

Florez-Gonzales was still pushing the accelerator after the car came to rest: “We do have evidence that he was apparently still on the accelerator after the impact,” Lt. Izumo said.

Florez-Gonzales resides in Pupukea.

The passenger is alive and recovering from the serious injuries that he suufered in the carsh.