Kalaoa Information Update # 2 for November 10th, 2019
One person is dead following a fatal head-on collision on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy (Highway 19) in Kalaoa, North Kona Sunday afternoon (November 10th).
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) responded to a fatal 2 vehicle accident (Head-On Type) that occurred on Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) near the 90-mile marker in Kalaoa, North Kona Sunday afternoon (November 10th).
The initial call came in at 2:09 pm and HFD crews from the Kailua and Keauhou Fire Stations along with American Medical Response (AMR 7) and HPD units from Kona Patrol responded to the scene located at the 90-mile marker on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kalaoa.
Upon the arrival of HFD and HPD units, witnesses reported 2 vehicles (a Honda SUV and Jeep Renegade) collided head-on on Queen Kaahumanu Highway leaving both vehicles severely damaged and one vehicle engulfed in flames. Bystanders assisted with extricating and providing basic medical care for multiple patients from both vehicles and also worked to gain control of the vehicle on fire until HFD & HPD crews arrived on scene.
Once HFD crews arrived on scene, they immediately took over medical care for the multiple patients at the scene and extinguished the vehicle on fire. One patient was pronounced DOA (Dead On Arrival) at the scene and HFD Medics transported a total of 4 patients: One in Critical Condition, 2 in Serious Condition, 1 in Fair Condition to the Kona Community Hospital, where at this time they are receiving further medical treatment.
Once patients were transported and the fire was extinguished, HFD crews turned the scene over to HPD Officers, where at this time, officers from the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) is on scene beginning their investigation into the cause and circumstances of the collision.
In the course of the investigation, HPD officers had learned that Jeep Renegade, which was traveling southbound (Kona bound) on Highway 19 and operated by a male in his 20's, when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with Honda Pilot, which was traveling northbound (Waikoloa bound) on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy and being operated by female in her 30's carrying 3 other occupants, all being described as females in various ages. The female driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene and other occupants including the driver of the Renegade were all transported to the Kona Community Hospital, with conditions varying from Fair to Critical condition. As of 8:00 pm Sunday evening, no update was given on the condition of those transported to the hospital.
HPD did not disclose if speed, distracted driving, or alcohol are factors in this collision.
Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) was closed for over 6 hours while HPD's TEU Officers conducted their investigation into the crash and was reopened to all traffic at 8:25 pm Sunday evening.