Major Traffic Collision on Kāpule Highway on Sunday

Published on August 03, 2026

LĪHU‘E – On Sunday afternoon, a three-vehicle traffic collision occurred on Kāpule Highway, resulting in multiple injuries and the partial closure of the highway.

On August 2, 2026, at approximately 1 p.m., officers from the Kaua’i Police Department (KPD) responded to reports of a traffic collision on Kāpule Highway (Route 51), just south of the Kūhiō Highway (Route 56) junction. The vehicles involved were a red 2019 Ford F-250 truck, a silver 2015 Toyota Yaris, and a gray 2015 Nissan Frontier truck.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the Ford F-250, which was being driven by a 72-year-old man from Līhu'e, was traveling southbound on Kāpule Highway when it crossed the center line into oncoming, northbound traffic and collided head-on with the Toyota Yaris. The impact forced the Toyota Yaris off the roadway and onto the shoulder of Kāpule Highway.

The Ford F-250 then struck the Nissan Frontier on the rear driver’s side fender. This caused both vehicles to move off the roadway and onto the northbound shoulder.

The driver of the Ford F-250 and a 71-year-old female passenger, also from Līhu'e, sustained serious injuries. They were treated at Wilcox Medical Center and later released.

The Toyota Yaris had three occupants inside it. The driver, a 49-year-old female of Kapa’a, a 50-year-old female passenger of Līhu'e, and another 54-year-old female passenger of Kōloa all sustained serious injuries and were treated at Wilcox Medical Center and later released.

The Nissan Frontier driver, a 47-year-old man from Kōloa, also sustained serious injuries and was treated at Wilcox Medical Center and later released.

The northbound lane of Kāpule Highway was closed for approximately two and a half hours while KPD’S Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. Northbound traffic was diverted onto the southbound lane around the scene of the accident. Southbound traffic was diverted through Hanamāʻulu on Kūhiō Highway. Speed and impairment do not appear to be contributing factors. The investigation remains ongoing.

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

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