FEBRUARY 14, 2015
KAILUA-KONA, HAWAII
Three people are dead and two injured Saturday following a
fiery crash on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona.
The three deceased were within a southbound Kia
multi-purpose vehicle that crashed head-on into a northbound pickup in the
vicinity of the Kohanaiki Business Park, near Matsuyama Food Mart around 5:15
a.m. Saturday, according to the Hawaii County Fire Department.
The Kia subsequently burst into flames, and the male driver
and two other occupants died at the scene, according to police. However, a
fourth occupant, a 17-year-old Kailua-Kona girl was able to escape the vehicle.
She was transported by medics to Kona Community Hospital. No further
information was available on her condition.
The three deceased were found after firefighters managed to
quash the flames, according to the department. They have not yet been
positively identified.
The Hawaii Police Department is withholding the identities
of the deceased pending positive identification.
A 39-year-old Kailua-Kona man driving the Nissan truck had
to be extricated from the vehicle using Jaws of Life equipment. He was also
transported by medics to Kona Community Hospital. No further information was
available on his condition.
Queen Kaahumanu Highway was closed between Hinalani Street
and Hulikoa Drive for several hours while police investigated the scene,
according to the Hawaii Police Department. It reopened around 10:30 a.m. Traffic
was detoured through Kaiminani Drive and Hina Lani Street while police
investigated the fatal crash.
Officers have opened negligent homicide investigations into
the crash.
Police did not immediately know if speed or alcohol were
factors in the accident. Autopsies have been ordered to identify the bodies and
determine the exact cause of death.
There have been four fatalities on Big Island roads this
year, compared with three during the same period last year.