A 30-year-old man was killed yesterday morning when his car crashed into a concrete barrier on O'ahu's North Shore, police said.

The crash came just hours after the start of the Memorial Day weekend, which police said kicks off the period known as the "101 deadliest days on the roadways."

Yesterday's crash happened about 5:15 a.m. on Kamehameha Highway near Punalau Place, said Sgt. Michael Brady of the police department's Vehicular Homicide section.

Brady said the driver was alone in the late-model Honda when he apparently lost control of the vehicle as it headed north on the highway, crossed the centerline and struck the concrete barrier.

The car was destroyed and the driver had to be extricated from the vehicle by Fire Department rescue personnel.

"It appears speeding was a factor," Brady said. However, police had not yet determined whether alcohol or drugs were also factors in the crash, fronting the "Leftovers" surfing area.

It was the 17th O'ahu traffic fatality of the year, compared with 34 this time a year ago.

The fatal crash came just two days after Honolulu police urged motorists to be careful driving with the advent of the Memorial Day holiday weekend and the high school graduation party season.

Police have already begun setting up roadblocks, kicking off a stepped-up enforcement campaign to encourage drivers — especially young people — to drive safely this summer.

Between 10:45 p.m. Friday and 5:25 a.m. yesterday, police reported making 26 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol. The arrests came in all districts of O'ahu, police said.

In the same period, police also reported two arrests for drinking alcohol in a public place, two cases of excessive speeding and two cases of having open liquor in a motor vehicle.

The "101 deadliest days on the roadways" refers to the period that begins with the Memorial Day weekend, when high school seniors are celebrating graduation, and both high school and college students are on summer vacation.