Hawaiʻi County firefighter injured in Kaʻū fire truck rollover treated, released from hospital

The Hawai‘i County firefighter who was driving a KME pumper truck that rolled over in Kaʻū on May 15 was treated and released the same day, according to a fire official.

The fire fighter was responding along with an ambulance to a medical call for someone having trouble breathing. The accident occurred Friday morning on Highway 11 in Nīnole, the fire department said in an email to Big Island Now.

The firefighter was first taken to Ka‘ū Hospital and then transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center where the firesfighter received treatment before being released.

The fire department did not say what type of injuries the firefighter sustained. The name of the firefighter also was not provided.

The crash did not interrupt patient care, according to the fire official.

The truck, purchased in 2018, is based at Station 11 in Pāhala. While damages are still being assessed, it is expected to be totaled, the fire official said.

With the vehicle out of commission, a spare fire engine is in use. Services have not been interrupted.

Previous media reports indicate the truck had a tire blowout, however, the fire official said the cause of the rollover remains under investigation.