Traffic Fatality on Kaumualiʿi Highway

A crash involving two vehicles on Kaumualiʿi Highway between mile markers 5 and 6 in an area known as Knudsen Gap, east of the Maluhia Road junction, on Thursday afternoon resulted in a fatality.

According to a preliminary report, at approximately 4 p.m., a 2011 Toyota Tacoma operated by a 31-year-old male from Lāwaʿi was traveling westbound when the vehicle veered onto the westbound shoulder. The truck then crossed back over onto the westbound lane and subsequently onto the eastbound lane of the highway where it struck an oncoming 2018 Nissan sedan operated by a 19-year-old male of Hanamāʿulu with three other occupants.

Police immediately responded to the scene, along with Kauaʽi Fire Department stations 4 and 5, and Rescue 3 Response, as well as four ambulance units, two from Līhuʿe, and one each from Kōloa and Waimea.

A 49-year-old female of Hanamāʿulu, who was a rear passenger in the Nissan sedan, suffered fatal injuries. Her name has not yet been released.

A 71-year-old male resident, a rear passenger of the Nissan sedan, suffered serious life-threatening injuries and was medevaced to Queen’s Medical Center on Oʽahu for further treatment. The front passenger of the Nissan sedan, a 19-year-old female of Hanamāʿulu, suffered serious injuries and was admitted to Wilcox Memorial Center. The driver of the Nissan sedan was treated and released at Wilcox Memorial Center.

The driver of the Toyota truck was admitted to Wilcox Memorial Center with serious injuries.

Kaumualiʿi Highway was closed in both directions for approximately four hours while the Kauaʽi Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section conducted a thorough investigation.

A toxicology report is pending to determine if impairment was a factor in the collision. An investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Isaiah Sarsona of the Traffic Safety Section at 808-241-1618. This is Kauai’s seventh traffic fatality of 2020.