HILO (KHON2) — A woman is dead and six others, including a three-week-old baby, are seriously injured after a head-on crash Thursday afternoon on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, a tragedy that police say was preventable.
Hawai‘i Island police say the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. near the 25-mile marker when a 2022 Toyota pickup traveling east toward Hilo attempted to overtake multiple vehicles and slammed head-on into a westbound 2014 Subaru multipurpose vehicle.
Inside the Subaru were six people — 47-year-old Anina Masaichy of Kailua-Kona, who was pronounced dead later that evening, and five others who suffered serious injuries. Among them: a three-week-old infant, a four-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, and two adults.
The infant and the 4-year-old were medevaced to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children on O‘ahu, while the teen was taken to The Queen’s Medical Center for further treatment.
Police say the driver of the pickup, 43-year-old Kimo Medeiros of Kurtistown, was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, first-degree negligent homicide, multiple counts of negligent injury, reckless driving, and driving without a license.
He was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment and later medevaced to Queen’s, where he remains hospitalized in serious condition.
Authorities believe speed, alcohol, and/or drugs were contributing factors in the crash.
Hawai‘i Island interim Police Chief Reed Mahuna says the investigation remains active and complex, with multiple search warrants and mechanical inspections underway.
“The investigation is still ongoing. We have search warrants that we’re serving, mechanical inspections being done. The three juveniles are still in critical condition, and the suspect remains in serious condition,” he said.
He said the tragedy is a reminder that one reckless decision can permanently alter lives.
“If something like this — involving our keiki — isn’t a wake-up call, I don’t know what is,” he said. “Slow down. Drive with aloha. Don’t drink and drive. These are people who left home, maybe going to the beach or the store, and they just never come back. There are no winners here.”
He added that while Daniel K. Inouye Highway is generally well-designed, enforcement and driver behavior remain key.
“We have a traffic enforcement unit that targets high-risk areas to make the roads safer,” he said. “We’re not in the business of handing out tickets for numbers — we want to make a difference. The end result is all of us taking responsibility for how we drive.”
The deadly collision has raised some concerns about safety in certain areas along Daniel K Inouye Highway – also known as Saddle Road – which connects Kona and Hilo and is used heavily by drivers.
Rep. Matthias Kusch (D-Hamakua, Hilo, Kaumana), a former Hawai‘i Fire Department battalion chief who has responded to crashes along the route, said the highway is a vital but can be challenging in some areas.
“Saddle Road is a lifeline between east and west, but it does take a lot of traffic,” Kusch said. “The west side is drier and more open, but on the east side, visibility drops — it gets steep, foggy, and slick. Most serious crashes happen during overtaking situations.”
Kusch says the state could consider more signage or pull-out lanes to help ease congestion and prevent risky passing maneuvers.
“Sometimes, one bad choice — trying to pass six or eight cars — leads to catastrophe,” he said. “The difference between driving 40 and 60 miles per hour only saves a couple of minutes. It’s not worth a life.”
“I was on the road and saw responders heading up the hill. When you see two fire trucks and two ambulances, you know the outcome isn’t good,” said Rep. Susan Keohokapu-Lee Loy, who represents neighboring districts.
She added that drivers often encounter fog, rain, and poor visibility near the 15 to 18-mile markers and suggested vertical delineators or reflective markings could help warn drivers of dangerous sections.
“Even at night, having more visual prompts helps people self-correct and slow down,” Keohokapu-Lee Loy said. “That stretch is an area of concern.”
Police say they will increase traffic enforcement along the highway and continue to coordinate with state transportation officials about possible improvements.
Chief says the ultimate responsibility, however, lies with everyone behind the wheel.
“We all share the same roads, the same community,” he said. “Drive with aloha, care for one another — that’s how we keep our families safe.”
The investigation into the crash remains ongoing.