Kawaihae Road has reopened in both directions following a fatal traffic accident Friday afternoon, according to the Hawaii County Police Department.
The road, which was closed about 2 p.m., reopened around 7:45 p.m., according to police.
The closure followed a fatal crash near Waiemi Place. A man was killed when his fuel tanker apparently went off of Kawaihae Road, near Waiemi Place, and overturned.
The man was operating the tanker and traveling westbound on the road when he apparently left the roadway and overturned, according to the Hawaii County Police Department. The tanker, carrying about 8,400 gallons of diesel fuel, spilled nearly half its load during the accident. The driver was pinned inside the vehicle and died at the scene. His name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of his family.
More coverage will appear in Saturday’s edition of West Hawaii Today.