Hawai‘i Island police have identified a 19-year-old Kailua-Kona woman who died following a single-vehicle collision in Captain Cook on Friday, March 19, 2021, as Erika Fredrika Neilson.
Responding to a 7 p.m. call, police determined that a black 2010 Infinity four-door sedan heading east (mauka) on Ke Ala O Keawe Road crossed the double solid yellow line, drove into a guardrail, went airborne, and then down an embankment. After the vehicle came to rest at the bottom of the embankment, it was fully engulfed in fire. Neilson was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m.
The driver of the Infinity sedan, 19-year-old Roman Kozinskiy, and a 24-year-old female passenger, both from Kailua-Kona, were taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. Both the driver and other female passenger were treated and later released.
Kozinskiy was arrested for negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (OVUII). He was released on Sunday, March 21, pending further investigation.
Police believe that speed and impairment are factors in the collision. Police are awaiting toxicology results from an autopsy conducted on Neilson Wednesday, March 24.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a Negligent Homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Cory Gray at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at cory.gray@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 in Hilo.