A 21-year-old Kula woman died Saturday afternoon after the SUV she was driving left Holopuni Road, rolled over, and ejected her from the vehicle. The single-vehicle crash happened as the SUV entered a left-hand bend near Pūlehu Road at around 5:15 p.m. First responders found the driver outside the vehicle, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Crash Details
According to preliminary findings from the Maui Police Department, a white 1998 Toyota 4-Runner was headed westbound on Holopuni Road when the driver lost control, crossed left over the double solid yellow centerline, then overcorrected into the dirt shoulder, causing the SUV to roll before it re-entered the roadway, according to Maui County. Investigators say the 21-year-old Kula woman who was driving was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle, and died at the scene. Police say speed is considered a factor, while the possible involvement of alcohol or drugs remains under investigation.
What Local Outlets Reported
Local coverage from Maui Now closely tracked the information released by county officials and placed the crash site at about 340 feet east of Pūlehu Road. The outlet also reported that officials are withholding the victim’s name for 24 hours to allow time for family notification. Maui Now’s account aligns with the sequence of events outlined by police and adds context about the upcountry stretch of roadway where the crash occurred.
Rising Toll On Maui Roads
This crash marked Maui County’s 16th traffic fatality of 2025, compared with 14 at the same time last year, according to figures reported by Hawaii News Now. The growing tally reflects a troubling pattern of deadly single-vehicle rollovers and other serious collisions on the island. Earlier in the year, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported on a similar rollover crash in Paia in January, where investigators also cited speed as a key factor.
Investigation Ongoing
Maui Police Department investigators say their work on the case is continuing and that testing is underway to determine whether alcohol or drugs played any role in the crash, according to Maui County. The county has stated that the victim’s identity will be withheld for 24 hours to give family members time to be notified, a detail also reported by Maui Now. Officials are asking anyone with information about the crash to contact the Maui Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section, according to Maui County.
