Police: Speed Involved in Near-Fatal Maui Lani Crash Involving Teens

By Wendy Osher

Maui police say speed is believed to be a factor in a near-fatal crash in Kahului overnight.  Two teens were transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in critical condition after the vehicle they were in collided with a tree in the center median of Maui Lani Parkway.

Maui Lani Parkway near-fatal accident 6.20.19. PC: Maui Police Department

The accident was reported at 2:05 a.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2019, on Maui Lani Parkway, about 0.2 miles SE of Kuikahi Drive near the entrance to the Church of Latter-Day Saints.

Police say the collision occurred when a 2003 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, traveling southeast on the roadway, lost control and traveled onto the median, where it collided into the tree.

As a result of this crash, a 14-year-old female and a 16-year-old female, both rear seat passengers, sustained life threatening injuries. One of the rear seat passengers was wearing her seatbelt; however it is undetermined at this time if the second rear seat passenger was wearing her seatbelt.

The 18-year-old female driver from Kahului, and the front seat passenger, a 15-year-old female, were not injured as a result of the crash. Police say both were wearing seatbelts.

According to police, a preliminary investigation reveals that speed is a factor in the crash.

The teen driver was arrested for two counts of negligent injury I, and driving without a valid license.  She was subsequently released pending investigation, which police say is common in these types of serious crashes.

According to police, MPD Vehicle Homicide Investigators will need to reconstruct the crash to determine the actual speed involved, as well as drug and or alcohol use.  Once the investigation is completed, the case will be sent to the prosecutors.

The involvement of drugs and alcohol has not been determined as the investigation is still pending.