KEA‘AU, HI – Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single-vehicle car crash that occurred Monday evening, March 31, 2025, in Kea‘au, resulting in the death of a woman from the Puna district.

Officers responded to a call received at 9:34 p.m. reporting the incident on Maku‘u Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. Preliminary investigation revealed that a 2018 Nissan Sentra four-door sedan was traveling eastbound when it failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Maku‘u Drive and Ala Heiau Road. The vehicle continued eastbound and collided with a rock wall.

The driver, a woman estimated to be in her 40s, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. She was found unresponsive at the scene and was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center. She was pronounced dead at 11:34 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the precise cause of death.

Police are withholding the victim’s identity pending positive identification and notification of her next of kin.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is conducting a thorough investigation, which has been classified as a coroner’s inquest. Based on initial findings, police believe that alcohol consumption, driver inattention, and failure to wear a seatbelt were primary contributing factors in the fatal crash.

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding this collision to come forward. Individuals with relevant details are asked to contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This tragic incident marks the 9th traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island in 2025, a significant increase compared to the 5 traffic fatalities recorded during the same period last year.