The Honolulu Police Department is investigating the crash on the H-1 freeway Saturday night that killed a police officer.

Garret Davis, 28, died when the car he was in was rear-ended along the H-1 freeway.

The fiery scene Saturday night has been described by even police officers themselves as one of the worst collisions they had ever witnessed.

Officer Davis was driving paperwork from the Wahiawa substation to police headquarters when he stopped to help a motorist on the H-1 freeway near Aiea.

He was sitting in the Ford Crown Victoria when he was hit from behind by a car driven by a 41-year-old man, who was later arrested for negligent homicide.

Some 85 percent of the nation's law enforcement departments use the Crown Victoria -- a favorite for its strength and durability.

But the cars have a history of problems.

"The Crown Victoria is nothing more than a death trap for police officers when they're hit from behind," said Clarence Ditlow, President of the Washington D.C.-based Center for Auto Safety.

The issue is where the gas tank is located, which is right behind the rear axle. According to the Center for Auto Safety, from 1994 to 2009, the Crown Victoria was involved in 135 fatal law-enforcement-related collisions around the country. The group wants the Crown Victoria recalled, despite the existence of a kit Ford says fixes the problem.

"Since Ford offered the kit, the fire depression kit, deaths in the Crown Victoria continue. We know of at least 10 crashes where police officers have lost their lives in fires in the Crown Vic," said Ditlow.