Two Lawai men died in a two-car crash Friday on Kaumualii Highway in Omao near the Punee Road junction. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

A Kauai County spokeswoman said Don Kaneshige, 51, died at the scene and James Denny, 86, was pronounced dead at Wilcox Hospital.

There were no passengers in either vehicle.

A preliminary report found that Denny was heading west at around 9:58 a.m. in a pickup on Kaumualii and was approaching Omao Bridge when he crossed the centerline and crashed head on into an eastbound pickup truck driven by Kaneshige.

Kaneshige and Denny are Kauai’s fourth and fifth traffic fatalities for the year.

Police reopened Kaumualii Highway in Omao shortly after 1 p.m.
West-bound traffic was earlier diverted to Maluhia Road and east-bound traffic was being detoured to Omao Road.