UPDATE: Two West Maui Women Extricated from Crash on Honoapiilani

A vehicle involved in a near head-on collision on the Honoapiilani Highway on Thursday afternoon, 8/30/12, was towed away at around 6 p.m. Photo courtesy Kaniala Masoe.

By Wendy Osher

***A West Maui woman who was extricated from a vehicle involved in a crash on the Honoapiilani Highway on Thursday afternoon, has since died from injuries she sustained in the crash, police said.  UPDATED information is now posted at the following direct LINK.

Two women were hospitalized after a near head-on collision just west of the pali tunnel on the Honoapiilani Highway on Thursday afternoon, August 30, 2012.

Both individuals had to be extricated from the vehicle they were in when a pickup truck, traveling in the opposite direction failed to negotiate a curve in the road and crossed the solid yellow center line, police said.

The accident was reported at 1:33 p.m., just west of the pali tunnel, near mile post 10 of the Honoapiilani Highway.

Police say a 35-year-old Lahaina man was operating the gold 2008 Ford F-350 Super Duty pickup, and was traveling eastbound toward Wailuku at the time of the accident.

According to police reports, the pickup was entering a right curve in the road, when the driver failed to negotiate the curve, crossed the center line, and collided with the front driver’s side panel and tire of a red 1999 Isuzu Rodeo SUV traveling in the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, police say the forward movement of the SUV was stopped, and the pickup pushed the vehicle in the mauka direction, pinning it against the rock embankment.

Two people were extricated from a vehicle following a near head-on collision on the Honoapiilani Highway on Thursday afternoon, 8/30/12. Photo courtesy Kaniala Masoe.

The driver of the SUV, a 39-year-old Napili woman, was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition.  Earlier reports from medics indicate that the woman suffered head injuries in the crash.

The front seat passenger of the SUV, described as a 48-year-old Lahaina woman, was transported to the hospital in serious condition with back injuries and multiple abrasions, according to medics.  Police say she remained hospitalized on Thursday night in stable condition.

All occupants of the crash were wearing seat belts, and had driver and passenger side airbags that deployed.

The driver of the pickup was treated and released after being transported to the hospital, police said.

Sgt. Jamie Becraft with the Maui Police Department’s Vehicle Homicide Unit filed a report saying the involvement of speed, alcohol and drugs are undetermined as the investigation is still pending. The incident has been classified as a near-fatality.

Maui Police were alternating traffic on the Honoapiilani Highway while a traffic investigation was underway. The road remained under contraflow until 5:55 p.m., when Maui Police cleared the scene, and opened the remaining lane of travel. Traffic continued to remain slow into the evening hours.

During the heaviest congestion, some motorists reported travel time between Kahului and Lahaina taking up to three hours.