A serious head-on collision involving a car and a passenger van shut down Kamehameha Highway in both directions Wednesday afternoon, prompting a major emergency response and significant traffic disruptions.
The crash occurred around 1:49 p.m. near the 7-Eleven and Tamura’s Market in Wahiawā, on the northbound side of Kamehameha Highway close to the Karsten Thot Bridge. According to early reports, a white passenger van collided head-on with a black car, leaving both vehicles heavily damaged.
Emergency crews from Honolulu Police Department, EMS, and the Honolulu Fire Department responded immediately. Officials fully closed Kamehameha Highway in both directions at approximately 1:56 p.m., according to a traffic alert issued for the area. Authorities urged drivers to avoid the scene and seek alternate routes.
Before officers arrived, witnesses said pedestrians stepped in to help direct traffic, attempting to prevent further incidents as vehicles backed up along the highway.
Paramedics assessed multiple individuals at the scene, but no official update on injuries has yet been released. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and it is unclear how long the highway will remain closed.
