8-vehicle pileup injures 3 and closes H-3
A 33-year-old man was in serious condition and two other people were in stable condition after an eight-vehicle accident on the Kaneohe-bound lanes in the Harano Tunnel of the H-3 freeway that also resulted in a van fire, authorities said.
The accident happened during rush hour at about 4:52 p.m. Monday.
Honolulu Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the fire in the van was spread from gas from acetylene and oxygen tanks, but the tanks did not explode. There were no injuries from the fire.
The H-3 freeway at the tunnel was closed indefinitely Monday night in the Kaneohe-bound direction after the accident and fire, which sent black smoke billowing out of the tunnel, police said. Town-bound lanes were contra-flowed.
The accident was near the entrance to the tunnel in the Kaneohe-bound direction, police reported.
Three motorists refused transportation, according to an Emergency Medical Services report.
Woman dies after being pulled from water
A 45-year-old woman apparently drowned Monday afternoon at Papailoa Beach in Haleiwa, according to Emergency Medical Services.
The woman was pulled out of the water by a witness at about 1:45 p.m., EMS said.
“She was found in the water unresponsive,” said Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman Shayne Enright.
Enright said according to witnesses, the woman lived in the Schofield Barracks area.
Enright said the surf wasn’t big.
Motorcyclist is critically hurt in accident
Paramedics took a 61-year-old man to the hospital in critical condition Monday after an accident in Haleiwa.
The Emergency Medical Services Division and police reported the victim was riding a motorcycle that crashed near the Surf and Sea shop on Kamehameha Highway at about 5:45 p.m.
EMS said it wasn’t known whether the man was wearing a helmet.
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Star-Advertiser staff
