A Sunday afternoon crash in Anahola left a 46-year-old man with serious injuries after he was thrown from the back of a pickup truck, according to Kauai police. Around 3 p.m., the truck was turning onto Kuhio Highway at the intersection with Hokualele Road when it reportedly crossed the center line, clipped a guardrail and ejected the passenger who had been riding in the cargo bed. The injured man was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment, and police say the 61-year-old driver did not stop to render aid.
Charges and scene
According to Hawaii News Now, Kauai police arrested the driver and cited him on several counts: negligent injury in the first degree, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, reckless driving, inattention to driving and leaving the scene of a crash involving bodily injury. Traffic was diverted around the area while the department's Traffic Safety Section documented the scene and collected evidence. Police say the driver was later released pending further investigation.
Victim, medevac and witnesses
Emergency crews stabilized the injured passenger at the scene before he was medevaced to Oahu for specialized care. Kuhio Highway was temporarily rerouted while first responders cleared debris and investigators worked the crash site.
Witnesses who saw the crash or its aftermath are asked to contact Officer Joseph Himongala at (808) 241-1617 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers Kauai, per Kauai County.
Why riding in a truck bed is dangerous
Public health research has long warned that riding in the open cargo area of a pickup sharply increases the risk of severe injury or death in a crash. Ejections and disabling trauma are common outcomes when a vehicle hits an object or loses control. Studies and case reports repeatedly find that unrestrained passengers, particularly young people, are especially vulnerable to catastrophic injuries in these situations, according to PubMed.
What happens next
Investigators are expected to continue reviewing physical evidence, statements and test results from the crash. The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney will decide whether to pursue formal charges. As Hawaii News Now reported, the driver remains released pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
