Update/Near-Fatal: Hāna Highway accident near Baldwin Beach Park in Pāʻia

UPDATE:

A near-fatal motor vehicle accident resulted in the extrication of two Maui men from separate vehicles on Monday morning and forced the extended closure of the Hāna Highway (36) in Pāʻia.

Police say the incident involved a stolen vehicle that rear-ended a pickup truck before it crossed the center line and collided head-on into another vehicle.

The crash was reported at 5:01 a.m. on June 19, near Mile 6 fronting Baldwin Beach Park.

According to a preliminary investigation, a 20-year-old Haʻikū man, operating the stolen white 2007 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling eastbound on Hāna Highway at a high rate of speed. Police say the stolen vehicle rear-ended a white 2014 Ford F150 County of Maui pick-up truck, which was also traveling eastbound.  The Cobalt then went left of the center double solid yellow line and collided head-on into a silver 2000 Toyota Corolla, which was traveling westbound on Hāna Highway.

As a result of the collision, both the Cobalt operator and the operator of the Corolla, a 30-year-old Pāʻia man, had to be extricated from their respective vehicles by first responder personnel.  The operator of the Cobalt suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he remains, according to police.

The operator of the Corolla was transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center in stable condition.  The operator of the F150, a 31-year-old Lahaina man, and his passenger, a 48-year-old Kahului man, sustained minor injuries and were transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center for further treatment.

Police say the operator of the Cobalt was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the collision; and the driver’s airbag deployed.  

The operator of the Corolla was wearing a seatbelt, and the front airbags deployed in that vehicle.

The operator and passenger of the F150 were wearing seatbelts, and no airbags were deployed in the collision.

Police say speed is believed to be a factor in this collision.

The involvement of drugs or alcohol has yet to be determined as the investigation is ongoing.

Update: 9:09 a.m., 8:51 a.m., June 19, 2023

The Hāna Highway is now OPEN. The Highway was closed for several hours following a two vehicle accident fronting Baldwin Beach Park in Pāʻia. Police reopened both lanes of the highway at 8:51 a.m. The accident was reported shortly after 5 a.m.

*We are awaiting an preliminary investigation accident synopsis report from the Maui Police Department. Check back for further details, which will be posted when they become available.

Previous Post:

Update: 8:42 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 8:24 a.m., 7:51 a.m., 6:15 a.m., June 19, 2023
Posted: 5:42 a.m., June 19, 2023

The Hāna Highway remains closed in Pāʻia near the entrance of Baldwin Beach Park due to a motor vehicle accident involving two vehicles, reported shortly after 5 a.m.  Motorists are asked to avoid the area until further notice and were being diverted at last report.