Tour bus driver arrested in crash
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
| |||
 |
|
||
Police yesterday arrested a 49-year-old Roberts Hawaii tour bus driver on suspicion of negligent homicide after he allegedly crossed the center line of Kamehameha Highway and hit a mini-sport utility vehicle head-on, killing its 42-year-old driver.
The bus then struck a house in the 47-700 block of Kamehameha Highway in Kahalu'u and became wedged under the eaves. A woman was home at the time but was not injured, police said.
Traffic investigator Sgt. L. Ridela said the roof was damaged and "the house kind of shifted off its foundation."
The collision was the most serious of the accidents that kept emergency medical services personnel busy yesterday:
In the Kahalu'u crash, Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said the SUV was turned over during the accident. The driver, a Kane'ohe man, died before firefighters could attempt to remove him from the vehicle.
The collision, near the Hygienic Store in Kahalu'u, occurred at about 2:30 p.m.
The police investigation kept the highway between Pulama and Waihe'e roads closed in both directions for three hours. It was then contraflowed for another hour.
Roberts spokeswoman Sam Shenkus said the driver has been placed on administrative leave pending police and company investigations. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families impacted today," Shenkus said, adding that the company is cooperating fully with police.
Advertiser staff writer Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report.Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.
