Kalaoa Information Update for November 10th, 2019

Fatal 2 Vehicle Accident leads to the closure of Highway 19 (Queen Kaahumanu Hwy) in Kalaoa, North Kona.

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.

At this time, Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Highway 19) between Kaiminani Drive and Waikoloa Beach Drive is closed to all traffic and being redirected to use Highway 190 (Mamalahoa Highway) as an alternate route. Queen Kaahumanu Hwy is expected to be closed for the next 6-7 hours.