Deadly Hawaii Island Collision Leaves Two Dead and Four Injured in Daniel K. Inouye Highway Crash
Troy Rasse of Pahoa and Jadelyn Cariaga of Hilo die in fatal Hawaii Island head-on crash leaving four others injured
A devastating head-on collision on Hawaii Island has left two people dead and four others injured, after a violent crash along Daniel K. Inouye Highway on Friday afternoon turned a routine drive into a tragic scene that stretched emergency responders across a wide rural roadway as crews rushed to save multiple victims.
Hawaii Island police confirmed the crash happened at approximately 3:38 p.m. on May 15, 2026, when a 2018 Toyota Tacoma heading westbound lost control while navigating a curve. The vehicle is believed to have crossed into the opposite lane, setting off a deadly chain of events that ended in a head-on impact with an eastbound 2008 Dodge Ram 3500.
The Dodge Ram was towing a trailer carrying a mini excavator at the time of the collision, adding to the severity of the impact and the complexity of the crash scene. The force of the collision caused significant damage to both vehicles, leaving debris scattered along the highway and prompting an immediate multi-agency emergency response.
Inside the Toyota Tacoma, 29-year-old Troy Rasse of Pahoa was pronounced dead at the scene due to the severity of his injuries. A second passenger, 24-year-old Jadelyn Cariaga of Hilo, also suffered fatal injuries in the crash, leaving families and friends across the community grieving an unexpected and heartbreaking loss.
A third passenger in the Toyota sustained serious injuries and was transported by air ambulance to The Queen’s Medical Center for urgent treatment. The driver of the Dodge Ram was also seriously injured and airlifted to the same facility, where medical teams worked to stabilize both patients following the crash.
Two additional individuals survived the collision, including the driver of the Toyota and a passenger in the Dodge, both of whom were taken to nearby hospitals with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Emergency crews coordinated multiple transports as they worked under difficult conditions to clear the scene and assist victims.
Officials noted that the roadway was wet at the time of the crash, which investigators believe may have played a role in the vehicle losing control. The combination of speed, road conditions, and a sharp curve is now being closely examined as part of the ongoing investigation into what led to the fatal collision.
The crash remains under active investigation as Hawaii Island police continue reconstructing the sequence of events. Authorities are reviewing evidence, vehicle conditions, and roadway factors to better understand how the tragedy unfolded, while the community mourns the loss of two lives and hopes for the recovery of those still receiving medical care.