Multiple fatal crashes on Hawaiʻi Island: What makes Saddle Road so deadly?

HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Another fatal head-on collision left two men dead on May 5. The two-car crash occurred in North Hilo on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, around 11 a.m. Police determined an east-bound driver was overtaking another vehicle when it hit a car going west. Both drivers in the collision were killed, officials said. This is not the first fatality to result from a head-on collision on the Daniel K. Inouye Highway. In 2025, multiple people -- including a four-year-old child and three-week-old infant -- died following crashes on the road. Mayor Kimo Alameda expressed condolences for the families impacted by the most recent tragic crash on the highway. Saddle Road can be challenging due to several factors, the mayor said. Drivers will sometimes attempt unsafe passes along the highway due to its "long straight stretches, changing weather and slow-moving vehicles," he said. Additionally, some drivers may be unfamiliar with the road and misjudge sight distance, officials said. In an effort to keep drivers safe, the mayor encouraged everyone on the road to drive defensively. Last year, Hawaiʻi County Police Department called for action on the roads following an increase in speeding incidents. Police said majority of excessive speed citations and arrests in 2025 occurred along Saddle Road. Mayor Alameda recommended drivers take the following precautions along Saddle Road: