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Hawaii County’s 911 system in Kona and Kau has been restored following a temporary disruption earlier today.
The disruption was caused by a crash that occurred near Waikoloa Tuesday.
Shortly before 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, Hawaii Police Maj. Sam Thomas said a garbage truck was traveling west on Daniel K. Inouye Highway when, for some unknown reason, the truck couldn’t stop. Thomas said the truck hit a guardrail and took out a utility pole at the Highway 190 intersection.
The crash sparked a fire, resulting in a brush fire in the area.
Police closed the roadway for several hours due to the fire and garbage scattered across the roadway.
Thomas said the truck driver suffered a head injury but was conscious and mobile.
Hawaian Telcom Spokeswoman Ann Nishida Fry said the fire scorched a fiber-optic cable. Crews conducted a temporary fix to the cable Tuesday afternoon but it later faltered.
Thousands of customers experienced a disruption to their internet and phone services this morning.
Nishida Fry said crews restored services in Kona and Kau as of 12:20 p.m. today. A handful of customers are still experiencing a disruption as repairs are 90 percent complete.
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