KAILUA-KONA — One person is dead and two hospitalized after a three-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon on Highway 190 in North Kona.
The collision, reported at 3:44 p.m. between mile markers 16 and 17, north of Puuanahulu, involved a passenger vehicle, pickup truck and Hawaii Gas tanker truck containing 2,400 gallons of propane, according to the Hawaii Fire Department.
According to fire officials, the driver of the passenger vehicle was pinned inside and had to be extricated by firefighters with rescue tools before being transported to North Hawaii Community Hospital. Two other passengers in the car were also taken to the hospital.
The drivers of the pickup and propane trucks were treated at the scene and released.
Propane from the damaged tanker was safely transferred to a second truck. The crash prompted the closure of the highway in both directions for into early Sunday.
Fire officials said the crash may have been weather-related, although no further details were immediately available.