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Kauai police say a 50-year-old Oahu man died as a result of a two-car crash in Kapaa on Monday night.
Police have identified the man as Nick Garza, 50, of Oahu.
Police responded at about 9:45 p.m. on Monday to the site of the traffic crash between a white SUV and a silver SUV on Kuhio Highway near the Mailihuna Road junction in Kapaa.
According to a preliminary investigation, the white SUV was heading south on Kuhio when it crossed the center line in an attempt to overtake a southbound silver SUV. As a northbound vehicle approached, the white SUV swerved back into the southbound lane and collided with the silver SUV.
The collision’s impact caused the white SUV to lose control and crash into a utility pole.
Firefighters extricated the white SUV’s driver, a 38-year-old Oahu man, from the vehicle, and medics transported him to Wilcox Hospital with critical injuries.
The front seat passenger of the white SUV — a 50-year-old Oahu man — was ejected from the vehicle during the crash and presumed dead at the scene. He was transported to Wilcox Hospital, where he was formally pronounced dead. A second male passenger who sustained non-life threatening injuries was transported to Wilcox Hospital, and has since been released.
The driver of the silver SUV, an 18-year-old Anahola woman, did not report any injuries.
Police closed a portion of Kuhio Highway, between Kawaihau and Mailihuna roads for about five hours to conduct an on-scene investigation. Police said speed and alcohol appear to be factors in the crash, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The incident was Kauai’s third traffic fatality of 2019.
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