Hawai‘i Police Department
South Kohala District
Acting Captain Roylen Valera
Phone: 808-887-3080
Report No. 24-038012
Media Release
Hawai’i Island police are investigating a traffic crash that lead to the closure of Akoni Pule Highway for three hours near Kawaihae Harbor on Wednesday, April 24.
Responding to a 2:30 p.m. call, police determined that a 2001 Peterbilt dump truck was traveling west on Akoni Pule Highway near the 3-mile marker, when the driver lost control of the truck, veered off of the roadway, struck a guardrail and overturned, spilling its load of asphalt.
The driver of the dump truck, was able to extricate himself from the truck. He sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated and released at the North Hawaii Community Hospital.
The incident closed Akoni Pule Highway until crews arrived to remove the vehicle and debris from the roadway.
The driver of the truck, Jeffrey Anderson, M-60 of Naalehu was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, and was later released pending further investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to contact Officer Richard Nery at 808-887-3080 or via email at richard.nery@hawaiicounty.gov.
