Honoapiʻilani Accident Claims Life of Wailuku Man

PC: Ray Hagston

Update:
(12:54 p.m., Nov. 1, 2016)

A Wailuku man suffered fatal injuries in a morning crash on the Honoapiʻilani this morning.

The accident was reported at 6:33 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016 on the Honoapiʻilani Highway (30) about two miles north of Māʻalaea Bay Place.

Police say the collision occurred as a black and red 1993 Honda Civic sedan, traveling north-bound on Honoapiʻilani Highway, crossed left of center and collided into a red 2006 Toyota Highlander multi-purpose vehicle that was traveling in the south-bound lane.

PC: Brittany Arisumi.

Police say the operator of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. The front-seat passenger and a rear-seat passenger of the Honda were both transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition. The operator of the Toyota sustained minor injuries and refused treatment.

Maui police have since identified the operator of the Honda as Samuel Gusman, 33, of Wailuku.

A preliminary police investigation revealed that all occupants of the Honda were not wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision. The operator of the Toyota was using his seatbelt at the time of the collision, according to department reports.

The involvement of speed, drugs and alcohol are still pending as the investigation is on-going.

This was Maui County’s 19th traffic fatality in 2016, compared to 19 the same time last year.  On Saturday, two individuals died in a head-on collision on the Kūihelani Highway.

Update:
(9:36 a.m., Nov. 1, 2016)

The Honoapiʻilani Highway is now OPEN in both directions following a fatal motor vehicle accident reported earlier this morning. Please drive with caution and expect delays as traffic resumes its normal flow.

Previous Post:

At 7 a.m., police closed the Honoapiʻilani Highway (30) in both directions following a fatal motor vehicle accident reported at around 6:50 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016.

The accident was reported in the “Pali” section of the road, on the Wailuku side of the tunnel.

The highway is closed between Māʻalaea and Ukumehame until further notice.

Emergency crews are responding to the scene.

*Check back for updates which will be posted as they become available.