Media Release

A 46-year-old woman died Saturday (August 11) from injuries she sustained in a one-vehicle traffic crash on Saddle Road, .6 miles west of the 27-mile marker.

The driver was identified as Rhonda Bennett-Holloway of Holualoa.

Responding to a 10:19 a.m. call, South Hilo patrol officers determined that the victim was operating a 2006 Ford Ranger pickup truck and traveling east on Saddle Road when she lost control, ran off the right side of the road and overturned. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

She was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 2:05 p.m.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved in this crash but speed was definitely a factor.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner's inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Wendall Carter at 961-2293.

This is the 23^rd traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 20 at this time last year.