NUKOLI'I – Two Kapa'a residents sustained minor injuries in a four-car accident on Kuhio Highway near the Hilton Kaua'i Beach Resort early this afternoon, Kaua'i County reported.

They were taken to Wilcox Hospital, where they were treated and released.

According to a preliminary report, three of the four cars involved in the accident were heading south on Kuhio Highway between Marine Camp and the Hilton Kaua'i Beach Resort at around 12:24 pm.

The first car began slowing down due to a traffic tie-up on the roadway from an earlier accident at the Kuhio and Kapule Highway junction.

To avoid hitting the first car, the second car pulled to the right, but it ended up clipping the car anyway. It then climbed the embankment and flipped over.

The third car crossed the center line and clipped a tractor-trailer that was traveling northbound in the outside lane.

The highway was closed for about an hour following the accident.