Haʻikū Man Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries in New Year’s Eve Crash on Ulumalu Road

A Haʻikū man is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries following a single-vehicle crash on New Year’s Eve on Maui.

Police say they believe alcohol and speed were factors in the crash which occurred at 8:32 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020 on Ulumalu Road, 355 feet South of Kamaliʻi Place in Haʻikū.

A preliminary investigation reveals a 1998 Toyota 4Runner was traveling South on Ulumalu Road. Police say the 32-year-old man operating the vehicle lost control of the 4Runner, crossed the center line and collided into an embankment lined with bamboo trees.

The man was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the roadway, according to department reports. He was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center via medics for further care.

Police say the man was not wearing a seatbelt and the vehicle airbags did not deploy. The involvement of drugs has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.

Through the end of 2020, there were 10 traffic fatalities on Maui County roads compared to 23 in 2019.