Līhu‘e man dies in single vehicle traffic incident

Published on March 09, 2024

Mar. 15, 2024 Update: The male driver has been identified as Wiley Yoshioka, 32, of Līhu‘e.

Mar. 11, 2024 Correction to below press release: The male driver was 32 years old, not 33.

KŌLOA – A 33-year-old man suffered fatal injuries following a single vehicle traffic incident Friday night.

According to preliminary police reports, on Mar. 8 at approximately 10 p.m., a 1991 Dodge truck with two occupants was traveling northbound on Maluhia Road when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.

First responders arrived to find the vehicle overturned on its side on the southbound roadway shoulder. The driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old male resident of Līhu‘e, suffered fatal injuries in the collision. The passenger, a 32-year-old female resident of Līhu‘e, was treated at the scene by medics for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to the Wilcox Memorial Hospital for further treatment, where she was subsequently released.

Maluhia Road was closed in both directions for approximately 3 hours while the Kauaʽi Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation. Speed and impairment appear to be suspected factors in the crash, however, the investigation remains ongoing.

This is Kaua‘i’s third traffic fatality of 2024 and remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call Officer Himongala at 808-241-1617. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information by calling Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi at 808-246-8300, submitting a tip at cskauai.org, or through the Crime Stoppers Kauaʻi P3 Tips Mobile App.

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