A 23-year-old Nanakuli man was in critical condition at Queen’s Medical Center, where he was taken Wednesday night after he lost control of his truck on the H-1 freeway near Kapolei and hit the mauka embankment.

Police said the accident occurred at 5:55 p.m.

The driver of a 2000 Ford Ranger truck was traveling westbound on the H-1 freeway when the vehicle developed mechanical problems.

The driver tried to pull off the road but lost control of the truck and hit the embankment. He was ejected from the cab of the truck, police said. His passenger was not injured.

Brush fire continues to burn in Pukalani

Maui firefighters planned to work through Thursday night and into this morning in Pukalani, battling potential flare-ups from a wind-whipped brush fire that came within 30 feet of homes and forced evacuation of residents.

The fire burned about 200 acres of brush land on the south and west sides of Akalani Loop. Twenty-six firefighters were on the ground, and three helicopters dropped water onto the fire.

Fire spokesman Edward Taomoto said there were no reports of injuries or damage to structures. He said the fire’s cause remained undetermined.