WAILUA — A three-vehicle crash Saturday morning near Wailua Golf Course killed two men and hospitalized three people, shutting down both directions of Kuhio Highway for most of the day.
The crash involved a “big rig” truck, a rental car and a motorcycle, a county news release said. KPD confirmed that two men, the driver of the truck and the driver of the rental car, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The truck driver is identified as Scott Aviguetero, 25, of Kaumakani. The driver of the car is identified as Wesley VanValkenburg, 30, of Union, Ill.
This crash — which comes on the heels of a wreck Friday morning in Koloa that killed 21-year-old Brian Pacheco of Hanapepe — marked the fifth traffic fatality this year on Kaua‘i.
Two passengers in the car, a woman and an infant, were transported to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. The female operator of the motorcycle, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was also transported to Wilcox. Their conditions remained unknown at press time, but the release says they were treated for unspecified, non-life-threatening injuries.
The occupants of the car were visitors to Kaua‘i. The survivors and other family members are being assisted by the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau and Life’s Bridges of Hawai‘i, a grief counseling service.
The crash happened when the southbound motorcyclist lost control of her cycle and “dumped it” down on the highway, the release said. The northbound truck driver apparently struck the cycle and lost control of his rig.
He then hit the southbound car on its driver’s side and the car and truck landed in a ditch on the mauka side of the highway. The truck overturned, landing on its roof.
The highway was closed soon after the wreck around 9:45 a.m. Traffic was diverted as the Kaua‘i Police Department and other agencies investigated the scene and cleared the road. The highway was reopened around 6:24 p.m.
“We are all so shocked and saddened by this tragedy and our hearts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. said in a statement. “Mahalo to the Kaua‘i Police Department, all of the first responders, the media and the public for their patience and assistance in dealing with this terrible, terrible situation.”
Accident investigation, removal of victims from the scene, DOT inspection of the road and DOH hazmat response for fuel and oil spilled at the scene all contributed to the delay in reopening the road, the release said.
The state Department of Transportation was called to the scene to inspect damage to the road and guardrail and to approve the highway for public use.
When the rig crashed, it scattered its load of heavy equipment on the road and shoulder. Crews utilized a mechanic, an excavator and other equipment to remove it from the scene.
The state Department of Health was on scene to ensure that oil and fuel spilled on the road and ditch were properly cleaned before the highway was reopened.
Southbound traffic was routed along the Wailua emergency bypass road, mauka of the highway, and northbound traffic was routed along the shoulder of the highway adjacent to the golf course.
The bypasses were opened within 45 minutes of the crash, the release said. After about two hours of significant delays, traffic was moving relatively smoothly in both directions along the rough roads.
Motorists traveling between Kapa‘a and Lihu‘e experienced long delays.
It remained unknown at press time if speed, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the crash, or if any criminal charges were pending.
