Sedan “Driven Erratically” in Honoapiʻilani Crash

UPDATE: 2:18 p.m. 12/21/15:

A small passenger sedan involved in a critical traffic accident on the Honoapiʻilani Highway this morning was reportedly being “driven erratically” before it struck a commercial truck and partially side-swiped another car, fire officials said.

Maui police say the crash occurred as a black 1996 Acura Integra two-door sedan operated by a 19-year-old female from Lahaina, was traveling Wailuku bound, overtaking vehicles on the right shoulder of the roadway.

The incident was reported at 8:21 a.m. on the highway near mile 17 at the area often referred to as “Cut Mountain.”

Fire officials say the sedan was headed south when it crossed into on-coming traffic that was headed in the north-bound direction.

Maui police say the Acura first veered left into the lane of travel to avoid a guardrail on the makai shoulder, clipping a red Hyundai 4-door sedan traveling the same direction in the process. The driver of the Acura then lost control, crossed left of center, striking the guardrail on the mauka shoulder of the roadway, according to police reports.

Police say the Acura was then struck by a 2003 Ford F550 utility truck and a blue 1991 Dodge pickup truck, both traveling Lahaina bound on Honoapiʻilani Highway.

Maui Fire Captain Paul Haake said the driver of the sedan was ejected and her Acura ended up in the middle of the highway after striking the oncoming vehicles.

According to Maui police, the ejected driver was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition with life threatening injuries.

There were several other individuals involved in the incident.

The two occupants of the red Hyundai sedan, both from California, were wearing their seatbelts and were not injured in the collision, according to Maui police.  The three passengers in the north-bound, commercial truck were wearing seatbelts and required no medical attention, according to department reports.  The operator of the Dodge pickup truck was also wearing her seatbelt and was not injured in the collision.

Fire Capt. Haake said one of the individuals involved in the collision was four months pregnant, and was uninjured, but responding personnel advised her to see a doctor.

Maui police Sergeant Kenneth Kihata filed an accident synopsis report saying a preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of the Acura was not wearing her seatbelt at the time of the crash.  He said the involvement of speed, drugs, and alcohol are still pending as the investigation is ongoing.

The road was opened at 12:09 p.m.

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Previous posts:

UPDATE: 12:09 p.m. 12/21/15.  The  Honoapiʻilani Highway is now OPEN.  Traffic is backed up.  Expect significant delays. Please drive with caution.

UPDATE: 11:40 a.m., 12/21/15. Honoapiʻilani Highway remains closed. Police say there is still no estimated time for reopening.

UPDATE: 11 a.m. 12/21/15, The Honoapiʻilani Highway remains closed due to a motor vehicle accident reported at 8:30 this morning. There is no estimated time on when the road would be reopened. *We will continue to update this post as further information becomes available.

UPDATE: 9:52 a.m. 12/21/15, The Honoapiʻilani Highway near Cut Mountain (Mile 17) remains closed in both directions until further notice due to a motor vehicle accident. The road was closed shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sources tell us an individual was ejected from one of the vehicles involved. Traffic investigators remained on scene at last report.

ROAD CLOSURE: ‪#‎hitraffic‬ ‪#‎mauitraffic‬ 8:27 a.m. 12/21/15, Honoapiʻilani Highway near Cut Mountain (Mile Marker 17) is closed in both directions due to a motor vehicle accident. Expect delays, please avoid the area if possible.