Driver arrested in Kapa‘a traffic crash

LIHU‘E — The Kaua‘i Police Department has arrested the driver involved in a Monday Kapa‘a traffic crash that resulted in one fatality.

Clayton G. Silva Sr., age 65, of Kapa‘a, was arrested Friday for negligent homicide, negligent injury and inattention to driving. He has since been released from police custody pending further investigation.

According to a preliminary investigation, Silva was driving a Chevrolet truck when he struck two women in a marked crosswalk near mile-marker 9 on Kuhio Highway in Kapa‘a Monday evening.

One woman, identified by KPD as 50-year-old Kapa‘a resident Tanya Hall, died as a result of her injuries.

The second pedestrian, a 52-year-old California woman, has been hospitalized for several days and currently remains at Wilcox Medical Center in stable condition. She is expected to make a recovery.

Speeding and impairment are not suspected factors in the crash. However, the investigation remains ongoing.

On Monday, Kuhio Highway was closed in both directions for approximately 1.5 hours while officers with the Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. Visitor Aloha Society of Kaua‘i, a nonprofit that provides emergency needs for visitors, assisted the family of the California woman.

This is the eighth traffic fatality for Kaua‘i this year, and the third major traffic crash in the past few weeks.