KAPAA — A 50-year-old Oahu man died as a result of a two-car crash in Kapaa Monday night.
The man’s identity has not yet been released.
Police were called to a traffic crash on Kuhio Highway, near the Mailihuna Road junction in Kapaa, about 9:45 p.m.
According to a preliminary investigation, a white SUV was heading south on Kuhio Highway when it crossed the center line in an attempt to overtake a southbound silver SUV.
As a northbound vehicle approached, the white SUV swerved back into the southbound lane and collided with the silver SUV. The impact of the collision caused the white SUV to lose control and crash into a utility pole.
The front passenger of the white SUV, a 50-year-old male of Oahu, was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. He was presumed dead at the scene, and later transported to Wilcox Hospital where he was formally pronounced dead.
The male driver of the white SUV, 38, of Oahu, had to be extricated from the vehicle by responding firefighters. He was transported by medics to Wilcox Hospital with critical injuries.
A second male passenger of the white SUV sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he has since been released.
The driver of the silver SUV, an 18-year-old female of Anahola, did not report any injuries.
A portion of Kuhio Highway, between Kawaihau Road and Mailihuna Road, was closed for about five hours while KPD’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation.
Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
This is Kauai’s third traffic fatality of 2019.
Speeding, drunk driving and dangerous driving behaviors (unsecured loads thrown in the back of pick-up trucks, texting while driving, tailgating etc.) are endemic on our roads.
When will government officials actually start tackling the issue? How many innocent bystanders rammed into by irresponsible drivers will it take? How many more deaths and extreme injuries?
How about a dedicated highway patrol squad that enforces traffic rules to make our roads safe again? KPD is understaffed and needlessly accumulating overtime… Somebody needs to be holding these irresponsible drivers accountable and enforcing simple traffic rules for everyone’s safety.
How hard is it to slow down, if someone is passing too many people also speed up not to let it happen. Don’t know the whole story, but this happens to much illegal pass or not just let people pass an ego or power trip is not worth someone’s lives. Reckless driving is an epidemic nationwide.