Several major Big Island roads were closed this past weekend after a fatal traffic collision and several weather-related incidents.
On Saturday morning, a Hilo man was killed and a Mountain View woman severely injured in a head-on collision on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road.
Police reports indicate the man, who was unidentified at press time, attempted to pass another vehicle and struck the woman’s vehicle in the oncoming lane.
The man was pronounced dead at 8:42 a.m. Saturday at North Hawaii Community Hospital, while the woman was listed in critical condition.
The crash closed a long section of Saddle Road, from mile marker 9 southwest of Hilo — where the crash occurred — to the Waikii entrance south of Waimea. The road remained closed for about five hours Saturday.
The day before, National Weather Service in Honolulu issued a high surf advisory for the northern, southern and eastern regions of the island. In response, Hawaii County Civil Defense closed Bayfront Highway between Pauahi Street and Waianuenue Avenue for fear of high waves and waterborne debris.
Bayfront remained closed late Monday and drivers were encouraged to use Kamehameha Avenue instead. The high surf advisory extends until Wednesday evening.
A third road closure occurred Monday morning when a tree fell across Old Mamalahoa Highway near Papaikou, completely blocking the road. The road was closed for more than four hours.
Apart from the crash, two of the road closures were caused, at least in part, by a combination of significant weather events.
On Friday, nearly 3 inches of rain fell on Hilo within 24 hours — nearly 4 inches fell on Papaikou during the same time. Meanwhile, winds reached nearly 30 mph at various points during the weekend, according to the NWS.
Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
