UPDATE – The Hawai’i Police Department reported that Highway 190 near the 31 mile post in North Kona opened at 8:40 p.m. Thursday eveing. “This roadway was previously closed due to an earlier traffic accident,” police stated, “which later involved several agencies due to the complexity of the accident which caused additional delays.”

NORTH KONA, Hawaii – A traffic crash has closed Highway 190 in North Kona.

Hawaii County Police Department report the closure is south of the Makalei Golf Course Road, near the 31 mile marker. The highway is expected to be closed for approximately four hours.

UPDATE (3 p.m. HST) – The Hawaii County Fire Department reports two people are dead following the two vehicle crash.

Arriving on the scene, fire crews found a “semi dump truck with a full load of gravel that T-boned an SUV.”

Fire crews say both vehicles ended up off the roadway, and that the two people in the SUV were dead on arrival. The driver of the dump truck had gotten out of the vehicle and was transported to Kona Community Hospital.

The cause is under investigation, fire officials say.

Motorist will be re-routed down Kaiminani Drive on Route 190 on the South side of the closure, police say. On the North side of the accident, traffic will be re-routed towards Waimea on Route 190 and from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.

Hawaii County Civil Defense says all Kona bound traffic coming in from the north should take the Waikoloa Road down to Queen Kaahumanu Highway to reach their destination.

The Hawaii Police Department thanks the public for their patience and understanding.

Big Island Video News will have more information as it becomes available.