KAPA‘A — Police are seeking a suspect driving a 1993 White Ford SUV which caused a major traffic accident in Kapa‘a this afternoon and then fled the scene, a county press release stated. “It was like a major traffic jam,”
KAPA‘A — Police are seeking a suspect driving a 1993 White Ford SUV which caused a major traffic accident in Kapa‘a this afternoon and then fled the scene, a county press release stated.
“It was like a major traffic jam,” Kapa‘a resident Kimo Rosen said. “Especially now with the bypass road closed.”
County spokeswoman said the accident happen at approximately 3:40 p.m.
Rosen said a northbound white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck stopped in the middle lane of Kuhio Highway near Chevron Station in Kapa‘a, waiting to turn left into Kipuni Way, when a car struck the truck from behind.
The hit caused the Toyota truck to spin and hit a southbound white Nissan Altima rental car, according to Rosen.
The Toyota truck ended up in the bushes on the side of the highway. The Nissan Altima suffered damages to its left side. The driver who hit the Toyota truck from behind fled the scene, according to witnesses.
County Spokeswoman Sarah Blane said the road was not closed, but traffic was diverted to the middle lane to facilitate traffic flow.
Kimo said he was told by witnesses that they knew who the driver who fled the scene was, and told Kaua‘i Police Department officers.
“It should be easy to find the driver,” he said.
Blane said KPD is still investigating the accident, and were unable to release any details at this time on parties involved.
Tokioka said medics responded and treated two passengers in the Nissan, who were both visitors.
Rosen said the visitors were from Charleston, South Carolina, and looked like they were an elder couple in their 60s. He also said there was a third passenger, a male in his mid-30s.
“They didn’t go to the hospital, but they were quite shaken up,” Rosen said. “They were on their way to a luau in Wailua.”
The visitors called Hertz, which sent a new car, Rosen said.
Tokioka said the damages to the Toyota and the Nissan were moderate. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Damages sustainedby the Ford SUV are unknown, she said.
