Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision in Waikoloa on Saturday, March 30, 2024, that left two elderly women dead.
Responding to a 11:39 a.m. call, police determined that a blue 2020 Kia Soul SUV was heading east (mauka) on Waikoloa Road, near the 3-mile-marker, when the vehicle crossed over the center line and struck a silver 2024 Chevrolet Blazer SUV head-on traveling west (makai).
The driver of the Kia, 72-year-old Lynn Capell of Waimea, was transported to the North Hawaii Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 3:17 p.m.
A 75-year-old man from Washington who was operating the Chevrolet, and the front seat passenger, a 77-year-old man from Alabama, were also transported to the North Hawaii Community Hospital for further treatment.
The right rear passenger of the Chevrolet, 79-year-old Eugenia Taylor, from Alabama, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m.
A third vehicle veered off the road onto lava rock to avoid the crash. The operator of that vehicle, a silver 2023 Chevrolet Equinox, and three passengers were uninjured but the vehicle was rendered inoperable.
At this time, police believe that speed and inattention are factors in the crash.
Autopsies have been ordered to determine the exact causes of death.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Ansel Robinson at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at ansel.robinson@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
The deaths of these two women are the 13th & 14th traffic fatalities in the 13 weeks of 2024, compared to 5 at this time last year. These two deaths also mark the second and third traffic fatalities on Big Island roads within 12 hours and the 6th and 7th traffic fatalities for the month of March. A 26-year-old Hilo male motorcyclist was killed late Friday evening, March 29, in Hilo.