Kihei Man Suffers Fatal injuries in Haleakala Highway Crash

A second traffic accident in as many days claimed the life of a Maui resident.  The latest accident was reported shortly before noon today (Wednesday, January 27, 2010) on the Haleakala Highway.

The accident occurred when a 1995 Dodge Neon four-door sedan traveling north on the highway lost control while negotiating a curve.  The vehicle slid into the ongoing lane of travel and collided with a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck.

According to police reports, the driver of the Neon, 22-year-old John Michael Bolosan of Kihei had to be extricated from the vehicle.  Bolosan died of injuries he sustained in the crash after being transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center.

The 61-year-old Kula man driving the pickup truck received minor injuries and declined treatment at the scene.  The drivers of both vehicles were the sole occupants at the time of the crash and both were wearing seatbelts.

Haleakala Highway (Hwy 377) was closed above Kealaloa Avenue during the police investigation.

The accident was the second traffic fatality on Maui county roads this year compared to 2 at the same time last year.

It was also the second accident in as many days on the Valley Isle.  In a separate accident last night on the Piilani Highway, 42-year-old Shannon L. Vannatta of Kihei died of injuries she sustained after being struck by an oncoming vehicle.

Authorities say the woman was standing in the travel lanes at the time of the accident.  According to police reports, her vehicle was found parked and unattended on the shoulder of the highway.

The accident was reported at 9:09 p.m. on the Piilani Highway just north of the Kulanihakoi intersection.

Both accidents were investigated by crews from the Maui Police Department Traffic Section.