Maui Teen Dies in Kūihelani Crash on Maui

By Wendy Osher

Police say alcohol is considered to be a factor in a fatal motor vehicle accident overnight on the Kūihelani Highway that claimed the life of a Wailuku teen.

Police arrested a 23-year-old Kula woman for first degree negligent homicide, and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.  Police say she was driving a 2016 Subaru Forester, and traveling in the wrong lane when the accident occurred at around 1:27 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2019, three miles north of Honoapiʻilani Highway in Kahului.

A 2016 Subaru Forester was traveling in the wrong lane when the accident occurred, according to Maui Police. Kūihelani Hwy accident 6.23.19. PC: Maui Police Department.

According to police, the Forester was traveling south, towards Lahaina, within the north (Kahului) bound lane of travel.  Police say the vehicle collided head-on with a 2003 Honda Civic, which was traveling within the proper lane, northbound toward Kahului, on Kūihelani Highway.

Maui police say 19-year-old Hannah Brown of Wailuku died at the scene. She was a passenger in the Honda Civic.  The operator of the Honda, a 19-year-old Kahului man was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries.

The operator of the Subaru, meantime, did not sustain any injuries and remained in police custody this morning, while Vehicle Homicide Investigators with the Maui Police Department continue their investigation.

Police say they will need to complete a detailed reconstruction of the crash to determine the speed of the vehicles involved, as well as if there are any other factors that contributed.

According to preliminary information, all individuals involved in the crash were wearing their seatbelts.  Police say the involvement of drugs and speed has not been determined as the investigation is still pending. Once the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the Prosecutors Office.

This was the 11th traffic fatality on Maui County roads this year, compared to four at the same time last year.

A Honda Civic was struck head-on by a vehicle that was traveling in the wrong direction. Kūihelani Hwy accident 6.23.19. PC: Maui Police Department.

UPDATE: (6.24.19)

Maui police have identified the operator of the Subaru involved in Sunday’s deadly Kūihelani crash. She has since been released pending further investigation. Police say this is common in fatal motor vehicle crashes as officers need to conduct a thorough investigation before sending it to the Prosecutor’s Office for review.

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UPDATE: (7:07 a.m., 6.23.19) Kūihelani Hwy (380) between Waiko Rd (305) and Honoapiʻilani Hwy (30) in Kahului is now OPEN.

ORIGINAL POST: (1:45 a.m. 6.23.19) Kūihelani Hwy (380) is CLOSED between Waikō Rd (305) and the Honoapiʻilani Hwy (30) in Kahului due to a motor vehicle accident. Police say the highway is closed until further notice.