Hawaiʻi Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Bradley Freitas
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 229
Report No. C16029133
Media Release
A-10-year old Hōnaunau girl died from a vehicle-pedestrian crash Wednesday afternoon (November 2) in South Kona near the 106-mile marker of the Māmālahoa Highway (Route 11).
She has been identified as Janexty Kaaloa.
Responding to a 1:10 p.m. call, police determined that a tan 1987 Jeep pickup truck had been traveling south on Māmālahoa Highway when it struck Kaaloa who had been running westbound across the highway. Kaaloa sustained critical injuries from the collision. She was taken to Kona community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:33 p.m.
The operator of the vehicle, 61-year-old William Herdon of Captain Cook, was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and later released pending further investigation.
It is not immediately known if speed was a factor in the crash.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, Ext. 229. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo.
This is the 26th traffic fatality this year compared with 16 at this time last year.
