2 Injured in Car Accident on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy. in Kona, HI

Kona, HI — May 19, 2025, Two people were injured following a car accident that occurred at around 11:00 A.M. on Queen Kaahumanu Hwy.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left two people injured during the morning hours of May 19th. According to official reports, a three vehicle accident involving a pickup truck, a sedan, and an SUV occurred on Queen Kaahumanu Highway near Hulikoa Drive, though the details of how it occurred remain unclear.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that two people had sustained serious injuries and they were transported to the hospital for treatment. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including how the accident occurred or the identities of those involved, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

After a crash like this, it’s understandable that people want to know how such a serious situation unfolded. Three vehicles involved, two people seriously hurt, and few immediate answers—that kind of uncertainty can be frustrating. In my experience, getting clarity in cases like this means going beyond the surface and asking the kinds of questions that often don’t come up right away, but make all the difference in understanding what truly happened.

First, did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash?
Multi-vehicle crashes are inherently complex. Was one vehicle stopped or turning when another approached at speed? Did someone drift from their lane or misjudge a gap in traffic? These are questions that require careful scene documentation—measurements, photographs, and analysis of vehicle positions. Investigators also need to look at visibility, road design, and traffic flow near the intersection with Hulikoa Drive. It’s not enough to identify who hit whom. The real value lies in determining the chain of events that caused three different vehicles to be caught up in the same incident.

Second, has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash?
When multiple vehicles are involved, it’s easy to chalk it up to driver error. But it’s just as possible that one of the vehicles experienced a malfunction. A stuck accelerator, failed brakes, or a steering issue could easily trigger a chain-reaction crash, especially if it happened at high speed or during a turn. And because pickup trucks, sedans, and SUVs all handle differently, mechanical conditions in each vehicle might have played a role. These factors don’t reveal themselves without a hands-on inspection—something that can’t be skipped if we want the full picture.

Third, has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?
Modern vehicles typically store valuable data about their movements in the moments before a crash. This includes speed, throttle position, brake usage, steering input, and more. In a three-vehicle crash, having this data from each vehicle can help confirm or challenge witness accounts and show exactly how the crash developed. But this data is time-sensitive—it can be lost or overwritten if not downloaded quickly. Ensuring it’s preserved is one of the most reliable ways to uncover the truth behind what went wrong.

At the end of the day, understanding a crash like this isn’t about assigning blame—it’s about learning from the evidence. Only by asking thorough, specific questions can we hope to fully understand how and why the events unfolded the way they did.

Key Takeaways:

• Multi-vehicle crashes need in-depth scene analysis to piece together the sequence of events accurately.
• Potential vehicle malfunctions in any of the involved vehicles should be ruled out through mechanical inspection.
• Retrieving electronic data from all vehicles involved is crucial to understanding driver actions and vehicle response.