HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
JUNE 5, 2007
REPORT NO. C07017651

MEDIA RELEASE (UPDATE)

A 24-year-old Hilo woman who died Saturday (June 2) from injuries she sustained in a three-vehicle crash in Pahoa has been identified as Dionne Meyers of Hilo.

Responding to a 2:32 a.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that a 1990 Honda 4-door sedan was traveling east on Route 130 at a high rate of speed when it collided with a 2001 Mazda multi-purpose vehicle making a left turn from Post Office Road onto Route 130.

Meyers, who was the driver of the Mazda, was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected onto the roadway. She was then struck by a 1995 Acura 2-door-sedan which was traveling east and was being operated by a 17-year-old Pahoa girl.

The driver of the Honda, 19-year-old Seth Danner of Pahoa, was arrested at Hilo Medical Center for negligent homicide and driving under the influence of an intoxicant. He was released pending further investigation beause he was in critical condition and had to be flown to The Queen's Medical Center. He was also not wearing a seatbelt.

A 30-year-old man who was a passenger in the Mazda was being treated at Hilo Medical Center in stable condition.

The driver of the Acura was not injured.

Meyers was transported to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 5:10 a.m.  Police initially withheld her name pending positive identification. An autopsy showed she died of multiple traumatic injuries.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide and driving under the influence of an intoxicant case. Speed and alcohol appear to be factors in this crash.

This was the 16^th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 14 at this time last year.

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