Kamuela Information Update for January 1st, 2020

Fatal auto vs pedestrian accident lead to the temporary closure of Kawaihae Road near Pu'u Opelu Road in Kamuela Wednesday afternoon (January 1st).

The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) responded to a report of a vehicle vs pedestrian accident that occurred on Kawaihae Road near the intersection of Pu'u Opelu Road in Kamuela Wednesday afternoon (January 1st).

The initial call came in at 3:06 pm Wednesday afternoon and HFD crews from the Waimea Fire Station along with HPD Officers from the South Kohala Patrol responded the scene located at the 65-1300 block of Kawaihae Road near the intersection of Pu'u Opelu Road in Kamuela.

Upon the arrival of emergency crews, bystanders reported a Toyota Pickup (being operated by male with his age not disclosed) had collided with a jogger/pedestrian (being described as a female, with her age not disclosed) on Kawaihae Road near the intersection with Pu'u Opelu Road. And bystanders began life-saving measures on the female until emergency crews arrived on the scene.

Once emergency crews arrived on the scene, HFD crews immediately took over life-saving measures on the female patient, however, later declared the female DOA (Dead On Arrival) at the scene. The driver of the pickup was uninjured and later taken into custody by HPD officers as a part of the investigation into the collision.

Once the determination was made, HPD officers immediately closed Kawaihae Road between Laelae Road and Ho'okipa Road while officers from HPD's Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) began their investigation into the collision.

Kawaihae Road was reopened to traffic at 5:50 pm Wednesday evening.

This is the 1st Traffic Fatality to occur on Hawaii Island Roads for 2020.