Hilo Fatality 02/26/00

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
FEBRUARY 26, 2000
G-21280

MEDIA RELEASE

Two people died following a head-on collision that occurred Friday night (February 25, 2000) on Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) near Nahala Street in the Honolii area of Hilo.

The victims are identified as Henley Rengulbai, 34, of Hilo, and Benita Agustin, 65, of Pepeekeo.

Responding to a 9:08 p.m. accident call, police officers determined that a 1987 Jeep pick-up driven by Rengulbai was heading toward Hilo on Route 19 when it crossed centerline and collided head on with a 1990 Ford Ranger pick-up truck driven by Teodorico Agustin, 63, Benita’s husband.

Rengulbai, Teodorico Agustin and Benita, a front seat passenger, were transported to the Hilo Medical Center following the crash, which caused a road closure for several hours.

Rengulbai was pronounced dead at 9:15 p.m.; Benita Agustin, at 10:37 p.m. Teodorico Agustin remained in guarded condition at the hospital.

Traffic Enforcement Unit Officers are continuing the investigation, and autopsies have been ordered to determine the exact causes of death.

Rengulbai’s and Agustin’s deaths were the fifth and sixth traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to one at the same time last year.

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