Kapa‘a man arrested for hit-and-run of cyclist left in critical condition

Police have arrested the driver believed to be involved in a hit-and-run crash that occurred Friday afternoon in Ōma‘o, which left a bicyclist in critical condition.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to a report of a traffic crash involving a vehicle and a bicyclist on Kaumuali‘i Highway, in the vicinity of Maluhia Road.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the bicyclist, a 65-year-old woman of Lithuania, was traveling west on the shoulder of Kaumuali‘i Highway when she was struck from behind by a truck, which was also traveling west. The driver involved fled the scene prior to the arrival of first responders.

Upon arrival, responding firefighters from the Kalāheo fire station found the bicyclist, who was wearing a helmet, with severe injuries to her leg and injuries to her head. She was treated on scene before being transported to Wilcox Hospital. She was later medevaced to O‘ahu where she remains in critical condition.

Witnesses to the crash described the truck involved as a Toyota Tundra, which led officers to locate the driver a short time later. Kib Hoopii, age 45 of Kapa‘a, was arrested for first-degree negligent injury, accidents involving death or serious injury, reckless driving, and inattention to driving. He is currently being held in KPD cellblock with bail set at $100,000.

Kaumuali‘i Highway was closed in both directions for about an hour and a half while the Kaua‘i Police Department’s Traffic Safety Section conducted an on-scene investigation.

The investigation remains ongoing at this time.