Media Release

A 59-year-old Hilo woman died Tuesday (March 25) from injuries she sustained in a two-vehicle collision on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11), .3 miles south of the 99-mile marker.

Responding to a 7:01 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the woman was operating a 2005 Kia four-door sedan and traveling north on Route 11 when she crossed the centerline and collided with a 2006 Kenworth cement truck that was traveling south.

The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:44 a.m.

The driver of the cement truck, a 52-year-old Ka'u man was not injured.

The victim was not wearing a seatbelt. Her is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Police believe that speed was a contributing factor in this crash. It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the 10^th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with nine at this time last year.

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