Man involved in single-vehicle collision died from medical reasons, not injuries in crash

A 76-year-old ‘Ele‘ele man involved in a single-vehicle collision Feb. 21 in front of the ‘Ele‘ele Shopping Center died from a medical event and not injuries related to the crash.

Kaua‘i Police Department reports that an autopsy confirmed the cause of death for the 76-year-old driver of a 2002 Dodge truck, identified as Ronald Valdez, that struck a guardrail as it was traveling east at about 6:20 p.m. on Kaumuali‘i Highway.

Responding officers and medics found Valdez unresponsive upon their arrival at the crash scene. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

He was transported to Kaua‘i Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waimea, where he was pronounced dead.

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