A 77-year-old Moloa‘a man, Stuart Hanchett, lost his life in a traffic collision on Kūhio Highway this past Tuesday. The Kaua‘i Police Department reported that the incident occurred near mile-marker 18 and involved a Toyota Tacoma and a Kawasaki Prairie quad.
First responders from the Kaua‘i Police Department, Fire Department, and American Medical Response were dispatched at around 1:45 p.m. following the crash. According to a press release from the Kaua‘i Police Department, Hanchett attempted to cross the highway on his quad when a Tacoma, driven by a 69-year-old Princeville man heading northbound, collided with him. The quad was struck, resulting in critical injuries to Hanchett, who was later pronounced dead at Wilcox Medical Center.
The driver of the Tacoma sustained non-life-threatening injuries and received treatment at the scene. In the wake of the crash, the highway was closed for approximately 2.75 hours, diverting traffic through Ko‘olau Road while an investigation was conducted. Neither speed nor alcohol are considered factors in this incident. However, authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology reports and an autopsy to clarify the cause.
The tragic event is still under investigation, and anyone with information is urged to reach out to Officer Himongala at 808-241-1617. Although the investigation is ongoing, and results from toxicology and the autopsy are expected to provide further insight, no new details have been disclosed at this time.
