Puna family demands safety improvements after car plows into property, kills 3 dogs

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A Hawaii Island family is calling for increased safety along a major highway on Hawaii Island after a car crashed into their property and killed three of their family dogs.
The major crash happened around 10 p.m. Thursday at the Angel family’s property, alongside Highway 130 and across from Paradise Drive.
According to the Angel family, the car plowed into multiple kennels in front of their home, killing three dogs and setting three others loose.
“I am asking the fire department to help me find my kids which are my dogs,” said Tyson Angel.
Although devastating, Tyson said wrecks at his home are not rare and that drivers traveling up Paradise Drive frequently overshoot their turn onto Highway 130 and end up on his property.
Although the state put up a barricade years ago to increase safety, the Angel family said frequent crashes have turned the wall into some sort of ramp. That said that seemed to be the case in Thursday’s crash.
”I feel like it’s forgotten or it’s put on the side,” said Caressa Angel. “I don’t know if it’s because the district we are in but until something like this happens, when we make a big deal of it, nothing gets done.”
State Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen said he’s never heard of any complaints in the time that he’s been with the department. He added that crews replaced the barrier the day after the crash.
According to Sniffen, Paradise Drive is a private road that the state does not have jurisdiction over.
The DOT said crews will draw reflective lines and later install speed humps where Highway 130 meets Paradise Drive sometime this week.
Officials said long term solutions are now being considered but as the Angel Ohana mourns their dogs, they remain skeptical.
“I’ve been told temporary fixes for the last 15 years since Billy Kenoi was the mayor,” Tyson said.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.