Maui police and the FBI are investigating multiple IEDs after the SUV was destroyed last week [VIDEOS]

The FBI and Maui Police are urging residents to report any suspicious activity following a recent explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) and the discovery of several other IEDs in the area.

On August 8, an explosion occurred on the Old Haleakala Highway when a 7-inch by 4-inch IED, hidden in a trash can, detonated after striking a passing vehicle. As a result of the explosion, the driver of the vehicle was hospitalized.

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Witness Jessica Weatherholt described the incident to local station KITV, stating: “I saw a flash in the sky and I thought it was lightning. I heard the loudest explosion I've ever heard in my life. It looked like an attack. It looked like someone was throwing bombs.”

He further detailed the aftermath, noting the extensive damage to the white SUV hit by the device: “The driver's side window was broken, the frame was bent. The whole body was like holes and shrapnel.”

Since the explosion, the FBI and Maui Police Department (MPD) have found and secured several IEDs from various locations, including trash cans and other inconspicuous locations along the highways between Kahului and Kula. The authorities have protected these devices.

The FBI press release emphasizes the importance of public vigilance: “The FBI and MPD continue to urge the public to report any suspicious activity that may pose a threat to public safety, such as someone leaving an object unattended in a public space. If you see a suspicious or unfamiliar object, especially near any street or road, do not touch, drive or approach it for any reason. If possible, keep others away from the area and call immediately to 911.”

Forensic analysis is ongoing to determine the detonation mechanisms of the devices. The FBI noted that IEDs can resemble small, improvised containers.

Both the FBI and MPD are actively investigating the incident and working to identify those responsible. The driver of the SUV was released from the hospital after the incident.