Kea'au Information Update for February 13th, 2020
Pedestrian fatally injured following an auto vs pedestrian collision on Highway 130 in Kea'au Thursday morning (February 13th).
The Hawaii Fire Department (HFD) along with the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) responded to fatal auto vs pedestrian collision in Kea'au Thursday morning (February 13th).
The initial call came in at 6:01 am and HFD crews from the Kea'au Fire Station along with HPD officers from the Puna Patrol and Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) responded to the scene located south of Kea'au Transfer Station near the 2.5-mile marker on Highway 130 in Kea'au.
Upon the arrival of emergency crews, a male party (described as a middle-aged male) was standing in the Hilo-bound lanes on Highway 130 and struck by a vehicle (described as a sedan). In the course of the collision, the pedestrian was then struck by several other vehicles following the initial collision with the first vehicle. The pedestrian suffered traumatic injuries and bystanders were attempting to administer life-saving measures.
Once emergency crews arrived on the scene, HFD Medics also attempting to provide life-saving measures on the male, but later declared the male DOA (Dead On Arrival) at the scene. The driver of the 1st vehicle in the collision was evaluated by HFD Medics and had declined further medical treatment or transport at the scene. The drivers of the other two vehicles were uninjured in the collision.
Once the determination was made by HFD Medics, HPD officers immediately shut down Highway 130 between the 2 and 3-mile markers while TEU officers began their investigation into the collision.
HPD does not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the collision.
The collision caused a major traffic backup in the Lower Puna Thursday morning, forcing motorists to use alternate backroads through the Orchidland Estates and Hawaiian Acres subdivision. Kua O Ka La Public Charter School was closed as a result of the collision.
This is the fifth fatal traffic collision to occur on Hawaii Island roadways compared to 2 at the same time in 2019.