Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a two-vehicle crash in Waikoloa that occurred Thursday morning, October 17, 2024, in which a 17-year-old Waikoloa female was killed and three teens were seriously injured.
Responding to a call of a reported crash at the intersection of Māmalahoa Highway (Highway 190) and Waikoloa Road (Highway 191) at 7:59 a.m., police investigators determined that a silver 2022 Chevrolet Spark sedan was making a left turn from Waikoloa Road onto Māmalahoa Highway when it was broadsided by a southbound white 2018 Peterbilt tractor trailer transporting 5,000 gallons of water. The 17-year-old female driver of the Chevrolet was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 11:51 a.m.
The 17-year-old female driver has not been positively identified, pending notification of the next of kin.
The 59-year-old male driver of the Peterbilt was not injured in the collision. The Chevrolet Spark had three female passengers, all of whom were seriously injured. They were transported to North Hawai’i Community Hospital for initial treatment. Two of the passengers were later transported to Oahu for further care, while the third passenger remains at North Hawai’i Community Hospital.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a major traffic collision investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646 ext. 229 or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov.
This is the 24th traffic fatality this year compared to 15 at this time last year.