Three people died in a head-on crash involving two vehicles early this morning on Honoapiilani Highway in Lahaina.

Maui police said the collision occurred around 3:08 a.m., roughly 340 feet south of Kikowaena Way near Wahikuli Wayside Park.

According to a preliminary MPD investigation, a gold 2007 Ford Escape driven by a 22-year-old Kihei man was speeding north on the highway when it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a gray 2016 Kia Soul traveling in the opposite direction.

As a result of the collision, the Escape caught fire and was engulfed in flames. Maui Fire Department personnel responded and extinguished the fire.

The driver of the Escape, as well as the 81-year-old male driving the Soul and his 75-year-old female passenger from Lahaina, died at the scene.

The victims’ identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

“I’d like to offer our deepest condolences to the families who are affected by this tragic crash,” Maui Police Department Lt. Kenneth Kihata said during a press conference today.

According to police, the driver of the Soul was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, but his passenger was not. It is unknown if the driver of the Escape was wearing a seatbelt.

Speed is believed to be a factor in the collision. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

Today’s deaths are Maui County’s ninth, 10th, and 11th traffic fatalities of 2023, compared to 13 at the same time in 2022.

Honoapiilani highway was closed for nearly six hours and traffic rerouted onto other roads as police investigated the deadly crash. The highway reopened around 9:15 a.m.