Head-on crash
injures 5 at
Waimea Bay

A small car and van collided head-on near Waimea Bay last night, injuring five people, three of them seriously, and closing Kamehameha Highway to traffic on the North Shore, according to initial reports from officials.

An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said the car's driver, a woman in her 50s, and her infant passenger were taken to the Queen's Medical Center by helicopter. The baby, who is about 10 months old, was in critical condition, and the woman was in serious to critical condition, she said.

The van driver was taken by ambulance to Queen's in serious condition, the supervisor said. His two passengers, a 20-year-old man, and a 12-year-old boy, were in stable condition and taken to Wahiawa General Hospital.

The EMS supervisor said the accident near Waimea Beach Park was a head-on collision, and according to police dispatch, at least one vehicle hit a guardrail.

The accident occurred at 9:10 p.m. Police shut down Kamehameha Highway in both directions, causing motorists to turn around at Pupukea and at Haleiwa.

No further details were available.