KNUDSEN GAP — An Oma‘o man died following a traffic crash, in which the vehicle he was driving careened off guardrails and ended up on an embankment along Kaumauli‘i Highway on Thursday.
KNUDSEN GAP — An Oma‘o man died following a traffic crash, in which the vehicle he was driving careened off guardrails and ended up on an embankment along Kaumauli‘i Highway on Thursday.
Nathan Louis was identified as the motorist in the crash that occurred at approximately 9:15 a.m. near mile marker 5.5 in an area known as Knudsen Gap, the Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) said. Knudsen Gap is located in between Oma‘o and Puhi.
“According to a preliminary report, a 66-year-old man was driving a Toyota Matrix in the westbound direction. The vehicle hit a guardrail, crossed the eastbound land, and struck guardrails on both sides of the highway before crashing into an embankment on the westbound shoulder,” the KPD said.
“Upon first arrival by responders, the driver appeared to be having a health episode. First responders treated the Oma‘o man before transporting him to Wilcox Medical Center (in Lihu‘e), where he was pronounced dead by a medical doctor.”
The incident closed the highway in both directions for approximately two hours while the KPD’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. Kaua‘i Fire Department personnel also responded to the scene.
Speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors in the crash at this time. However, the investigation remains ongoing and toxicology reports and an autopsy are pending.
