A three-car crash that occurred at about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon along Kaumuali’i Highway, 100 yards east of Chiefess Kamakahelei School, didn’t result in major injuries, but did back up traffic for more than an hour. Westbound traffic was backed
A three-car crash that occurred at about 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon along Kaumuali’i Highway, 100 yards east of Chiefess Kamakahelei School, didn’t result in major injuries, but did back up traffic for more than an hour.
Westbound traffic was backed up from the scene to the Rice Street-Kaumuali’i Highway-Kuhio Highway junction. Initial reports stated that a sedan rear-ended a Toyota truck, which in turn resulted in another rear-end collision to a late-model Jeep Cherokee.
According to Kaua’i Fire Department first responder personnel, the sedan slid under the bed of the Toyota truck, but didn’t go far enough to cause serious injuries to the driver. Its hood was crunched up against the windshield, which didn’t shatter.
The traffic headed to the school seemed to be mostly single drivers, many of whom were headed toward the school.
Kaua’i Police Department Patrol Services officers could not say what caused the accident, but eyewitnesses saw traffic was already backed up for the after-school rush.
“One parent called to say she was held up after the accident, but traffic seems to be going smoothly here,” said Denise Kelekoma, clerk typist at the middle school.
She said that some buses were late by about 10 minutes, as buses that drop kids off in the Lihu’e and Hanama’ulu area also bring kids who live in areas west of the school.
One person complained of minor aches and pains but there were no serious injuries, and no one was required emergency medical services.