Fatal crash victim ID’d as Waialua man

A 52-year-old man killed Friday in a crash in Waialua was identified as Kenton Kuwada of Waialua, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

The crash happened on Kaukonahua Road.

At about 10:28 a.m. Friday, Kuwada was traveling south on Kaukonahua Road in a white 1995 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when a blue 2001 Ford Ranger pickup heading north crossed the centerline and hit him.

Kuwada suffered internal injuries and was taken in critical condition to the Queen’s Medical Center, where he later died. His passenger, a 76-year-old Waialua woman, was transported to the hospital in critical condition and was later upgraded to serious condition.

The Ford Ranger driver, a 42-year-old Waialua man, suffered a laceration to his tongue and was transported to Queen’s in good condition. Police had said the man may have fallen asleep when he crossed the centerline.

Kuwada’s death is the 48th traffic-related fatality on Oahu this year, compared with 46 at the same time last year.

Truck crash closes Ala Wai Boulevard

Police closed Ala Wai Boulevard on Saturday afternoon after a truck veered off the road, ran over a fire hydrant and struck a utility pole.

The driver, a man in his 50s, apparently suffered a heart-related medical emergency just before the crash, according to police. He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition. Two passengers in the vehicle were uninjured.

The crash, which happened at about 2:30 p.m. in the area fronting 2163 Ala Wai Blvd., left the Ford F-150 truck resting on top of the hydrant and against the pole. Water from the broken hydrant flooded the street while traffic investigators worked to record information from the crash site.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Carlton Yamada said HFD personnel were able to shut off the hydrant once the investigation was completed and the truck was moved.

The street was reopened at about 4:30 p.m.

Falling steel beam gives man head trauma

A man in his 60s was critically injured Saturday afternoon in Kaaawa when a steel beam fell on him during a home renovation.

The man was working with another man to remove the rusted beam when it fell, striking him on the head, according to Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Carlton Yamada.

He was transported to the Queen’s Medical Center with severe head trauma and other injuries.