A Maui Police Department patrol vehicle caught on fire in the shoulder lane of Mokulele Highway on Sunday afternoon while officers were responding to an injured moped rider.
No officers or fire personnel were injured by the fire, according to Maui police spokesman Lt. Wayne Ibarra.
"The cause of the fire is suspected to be the exhaust system and catalytic converter's close proximity to the haylike, drought-resistant grass in the shoulder of Mokulele Highway," Ibarra said. "It appears the vehicle's under carriage sustained the brunt of the suspected heat and flame damages."
Officers had been responding to the moped incident around noon on the shoulder of the highway's Kahului-bound lanes near the Maui Humane Society.
The police vehicle was towed and is being assessed to determine whether it is still operational.
