A man was killed Friday afternoon when his fuel tanker apparently went off of Kawaihae Road, near Waiemi Place, and overturned. Kawaihae Road remains closed.
A man was killed Friday afternoon when his fuel tanker apparently went off of Kawaihae Road, near Waiemi Place, and overturned. Kawaihae Road remains closed as of 7:45 p.m.
The man was operating the tanker and traveling westbound on the road when he apparently left the roadway and overturned, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. The tanker, carrying about 8,400 gallons of diesel fuel, spilled nearly half its load during the accident. The driver was pinned inside the vehicle and died at the scene. His name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of his family.
Fire and police crews remain on scene. The road will remain closed for at several hours. Use Waikoloa Road and Kohala Mountain Road as a detour, police said.