West Hawaii Today: Colt Brennan injured in Kona

Colt Brennan injured in Kona

by Chelsea Jensen
West Hawaii Today
cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
Saturday, November 20, 2010 7:21 AM HST

Former University of Hawaii and NFL quarterback Colt Brennan, 27, was hospitalized with serious injuries Friday morning following a two-car crash near Makalawena Beach in North Kona.

Brennan was a passenger in a silver 1997 Toyota sports utility vehicle driven by Shakti Stream, a 27-year-old Kona woman, Area II Maj. Randy Apele said. Stream was driving northbound on Queen Kaahumanu Highway when she apparently crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound 1996 Saab sedan around 9:30 a.m., he said.

Apele said police had yet to determine why Stream crossed the center line near mile marker 90. He was also unsure if Stream was attempting to make a left turn from the highway.

Kailua Fire Station Capt. Charles Spain said Brennan was pinned in the sports utility vehicle, which had come to a stop on its side on the makai side shoulder of the highway. Stream had exited the vehicle prior to the Fire Department's arrival, he said.

Fire rescue personnel extricated Brennan, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Brennan and Stream were both transported in serious condition to Kona Community Hospital.

Brennan was later flown to The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment, Apele said.

Queen's issued a statement saying Brennan was in serious condition.

Brennan's father, Terry Brennan, told KHON-TV he suffered three or four broken ribs, a broken left collarbone and head injuries.

Click Photo to Enlarge Fire rescue personnel extricated former University of Hawaii and NFL quarterback Colt Brennan from an overturned vehicle Friday. - Sam Brown | Special To West Hawaii Today

The driver of the Saab, a 47-year-old Waikoloa woman, was also pinned in her vehicle following the crash, Spain said. Her car came to a stop about 10 to 15 yards off the mauka side of the highway in an open lava field, he said.

Fire rescue personnel extricated the woman, who was stabilized and subsequently flown via Chopper 2 to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was listed in serious condition. Spain said the woman had been wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Apele said the woman was later transported to The Queen's Medical Center for further treatment.

Queen Kaahumanu Highway was closed in the area for nearly two hours following the accident. The highway reopened about 11:30 a.m.

Police have opened two negligent injury investigations in connection with the crash. Police have yet to determine if speed, alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in the crash, however, a blood draw at the hospital is standard procedure for drivers involved negligent injury cases, Apele said.

Click Photo to Enlarge Former University of Hawaii and NFL quarterback Colt Brennan was hospitalized with serious injuries Friday morning following a two-car crash near Makalawena Beach in North Kona. Brennan was later flown to The Queen's Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment. - The Associated Press

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash should call Officer Paula Jelsma at 326-4646, ext. 253.

Brennan has been spending time on the Big Island after being released by the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 4 -- five days before the NFL season began. In October, he had a workout with the Houston Texans.

Brennan played at UH from 2005 to 2007, setting single-season Division I records for touchdown passes (58) and passing efficiency (186.0) in 2006. The following season, Brennan led UH to a 12-0 regular-season record before the Warriors suffered a 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Brennan was selected in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins in the 2008 NFL draft. After undergoing four surgeries, he was released by the Redskins shortly before joining the Raiders.

West Hawaii Today sports editor Joe Ferraro and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2010/11/20/local/local01.txt