Two individuals were left critically injured following a car accident on Kaua‘i's Hulemalu Road last Sunday evening. The Kaua‘i Police Department (KPD) reported that the crash involved a single vehicle, specifically a 2015 white Nissan multi-purpose vehicle carrying four occupants. According to the county's press release, the accident occurred at around 11:30 p.m., just east of the Hā‘iku Road intersection.
The preliminary investigation indicates the driver, who is a minor, failed to navigate a left-hand curve, prompting the vehicle to veer off the road and collide with a tree. The identities of the minors involved have not been disclosed in adherence to juvenile privacy laws. As a result of the collision, two passengers were critically injured and are now receiving care at Wilcox Medical Center. The driver and another passenger sustained less severe injuries and were released after treatment at the same medical facility.
Following the incident, KPD's Traffic Safety Section closed Hulemalu Road in both directions for over two hours. This disruption allowed for an investigation of the crash site which suggests that speed may have been a factor. The KPD is awaiting toxicology reports to determine whether driver impairment was also a contributing cause. As the community waits for answers, the KPD's investigation continues.
