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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, August 3, 2009

Ultralight fliers rescued after crash in Hanapepe

Advertiser Staff

Kaua'i Fire Department specialists finished rescuing two victims of an ultralight aircraft crash in Hanapepe Valley yesterday and an injured hunter in Koke'e.

One victim of the ultralight crash was taken out of the valley Saturday evening, and the second was rescued yesterday morning, according to officials from the Kaua'i Fire Department and Coast Guard, which assisted in the operation.

Both ultralight crash victims were airlifted to The Queen's Medical Center.

Early yesterday, the fire department's Air-1 helicopter with a rescue captain from the Lihu'e fire station aboard attempted to return to Hanapepe Valley to pick up the second ultralight crash victim and two rescue specialists who spent the night in the valley.

Extremely windy and rainy conditions prevented them from going into the Hanapepe site. So they flew to Koke'e and picked up an injured hunter on Mokihana Ridge.

The hunter was flown to Waimea Canyon Park, and then taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital via ambulance. The injured hunter was treated and released.

After completing the Koke'e rescue operation, Air-1 with the rescue captain on board returned to Hanapepe Valley.

The weather had improved and the ultralight crash victim and one rescue specialist were flown to Waimea Canyon Park, where awaiting medics then drove the victim to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.

Air-1 then returned to Hanapepe Valley to pick up the other rescue specialist.

Yesterday evening, the other victim in the ultralight crash had been picked up from the site in Hanapepe Valley and taken to Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital.