Two people died and two others, including a 2-year-old boy, were in critical condition following a head-on traffic collision on Kuhio Highway in Kealia, Kauai, on Friday.
According to police, a Nissan Cube driven by a 28-year-old Kapaa man was heading south on the highway, in an area fronting Saint Catherine Cemetery, when it apparently crossed the centerline and collided with an oncoming delivery truck shortly before 9 a.m.
The driver of the Nissan died at the scene. A 26-year-old female passenger, also from Kapaa, was transported to Wilcox Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Another passenger, a 28-year-old Kapaa woman, was also transported to Wilcox Medical Center in critical condition.
The 2-year-old boy, who was riding in the front passenger seat, was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition.
The driver of the delivery truck, a 54-year-old Kapaa man, did not sustain serious injury.
Police closed the highway in both directions for more than three hours while investigators scanned the scene and crews worked to remove the vehicles and clear debris from the roadway.
Body of Maui free diver recovered
Maui fire rescue crews Thursday recovered the body of a 29-year-old free diver at Oneuli Beach in Makena.
His name has yet to be released.
The diver was free-diving with friends about a quarter-mile off Oneuli Beach — also known as Black Sand Beach — when he ran into trouble Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from the Maui Fire Department.
His friends tried to reach him, but strong currents hindered their efforts.
Rescue divers aboard Air 1 responded and recovered the unresponsive free diver from the bottom of the ocean floor, approximately 100 feet below the surface.
He was airlifted to a nearby golf course fairway where paramedics declared him dead.
Suspect charged in robbery-kidnapping
Police charged a 37-year-old Lahaina man in connection with a robbery and kidnapping of two visitors at Nakalele Point on Maui.
Phillip Rosenthal was charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, credit card theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree terroristic threatening and second-degree theft.
He is being held in lieu of $500,000.
Police said two visitors at Nakalele Point were approached by a masked man and a woman on March 15. The man brandished firearms and robbed the couple.
Police said the man and woman then took the visitors to several locations where they ordered them to purchase items.
A week later Ashley Ramos, 19, of Lahaina turned herself in to police and was charged with first-degree robbery, unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree terroristic threatening and kidnapping.
Rosenthal turned himself in to police Thursday afternoon.
