Two Killed, Four Injured in Head-On Crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway
A head-on collision on Daniel K. Inouye Highway resulted in two fatalities and four injuries Friday afternoon, Hawaii Island police reported.
At 3:38 p.m. on Friday, officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to the 13-mile marker of the highway. A 2018 Toyota Tacoma traveling west lost control on a wet curve, crossed the centerline, and struck an eastbound 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck towing a trailer with a mini excavator, authorities said.
The Tacoma's front seat passenger, 29-year-old Troy Rasse of Pahoa, and a rear-seat passenger, 24-year-old Jadelyn Cariaga of Hilo, were declared dead at the scene at 4:20 p.m. Neither victim was wearing a seatbelt, and autopsies have been ordered to determine the cause of death.
A 26-year-old woman in the Tacoma and the 43-year-old driver of the Dodge were transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and later medevacked to The Queen's Medical Center. Their conditions have not been released. The Tacoma's driver, a 21-year-old man from Paauilo, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is stable. A front-seat passenger in the Dodge, a 42-year-old Hilo man, was treated for minor injuries and released.
The highway remained closed in both directions for several hours as police continued their investigation. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiipolice.gov.
This incident marks the 10th and 11th traffic fatalities on the Big Island in 2026, compared to 12 for the same period last year. The Hawaii Police Department emphasized the importance of safe driving practices, including wearing seat belts and adjusting for hazardous weather conditions.