The Honolulu Fire Department yesterday released a recording of a 911 call from a driver who saw the head-on collision that resulted when local playwright Lisa Matsumoto drove the wrong way on the H-1 Freeway, killing herself and seriously injuring another woman.

"There's a head-on collision. There's a car that's going the wrong way," the female caller told a Fire Department dispatcher just after the 3:30 a.m. crash on Dec. 14.

"It just happened maybe a minute ago," the caller continued.

"The car passed me and hit the car right behind me."

Police are still investigating how Matsumoto's car ended up traveling against traffic on the H-1 westbound lanes, east of the Kalihi Street overpass.

Matsumoto died at The Queen's Medical Center after suffering blunt force injuries to her neck in the crash. An autopsy found her blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

The crash also left a 35-year-old Waipahu woman in serious condition with head and leg injuries.

A 21-year-old man whose car crashed while trying to avoid the collision was treated at the scene and was not taken to the hospital.

The Advertiser requested the 911 tapes on the crash from the fire and police departments. The Police Department declined to release the tapes, citing an ongoing traffic investigation. Police have said they received at least three 911 calls about a car traveling the wrong way on the freeway prior to the crash. Matsumoto was driving in the lane closest to the center divider.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig, a department spokesman, said yesterday the 911 call released was the only witness call the Fire Department received about the crash. The call is about 2 minutes long.

Much of the call is spent pinpointing the location of the accident.

At one point, the dispatcher expresses surprise at the circumstances and tells the caller, "Wow, how did it get on the freeway going that way?"

Matsumoto was 43 years old.

She was well known for her children's books and her plays, which have been staged all over the state. Also, 'Ohi'a Productions, which Matsumoto co-founded, offers theater programs in several schools.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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