Utility Vehicle Collision on Kaumuali‘i Highway Leaves One Injured

Published on September 12, 2025

WAIMEA – Police responded to a traffic collision Tuesday afternoon on Kaumuali‘i Highway near Pāʻulaʻula State Historic Site, where a passenger vehicle struck an off-road utility vehicle, resulting in serious injuries to one occupant.

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at approximately 2:15 p.m., a Kawasaki utility terrain vehicle (UTV) carrying three occupants was traveling eastbound on Kaumuali‘i Highway and attempting to make a left turn when a 2021 Toyota SUV with a single occupant, attempted to pass the UTV and struck it from behind. The impact caused the UTV to collide with a guardrail on the westbound shoulder. Two passengers were ejected from the UTV.

One passenger, a 19-year-old man from Kekaha, sustained serious injuries and was transported to Wilcox Medical Center. The second passenger, a 19-year-old man from Waimea, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Toyota, a minor, reported no injuries.

Kaumuali‘i Highway was closed in both directions for approximately one and a half hours as officers with the Kaua‘i Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. Speed and impairment do not appear to be contributing factors in the crash at this time.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is urged to call Officer Henshaw at (808) 241-1616. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi at (808) 246-8300, submitting a tip at crimestopperskauai.org, or through the Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi P3 Tips Mobile App.

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