HAWAII, HI, (May 15, 2026) – A head-on collision involving two pickup trucks Friday afternoon on Hawaii Island claimed the lives of two people and left several others injured, according to police.
Investigators said a 2018 Toyota Tacoma was traveling westbound on Daniel K. Inouye Highway at approximately 3:38 p.m. when the driver reportedly lost control while navigating a curve on the wet roadway.
Authorities said the Toyota crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with an eastbound 2008 Dodge Ram 3500 towing a mini excavator on a trailer.
A passenger in the Toyota, identified as 29-year-old Troy Rasse of Pahoa, suffered fatal injuries in the crash. A second passenger, a 24-year-old Hilo resident, also died as a result of the collision.
Police said a third passenger in the Toyota and the driver of the Dodge sustained serious injuries and were flown to The Queen’s Medical Center for treatment. The Toyota driver and a passenger in the Dodge were hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening.
The crash remains under active investigation.
