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Hilo fatality (correction) 10-14-09

Hawai’i Police Department
Traffic Enforcement Unit
Acting Sergeant Robert Paoule
Phone: 961-8119
October 14 2009
Report No. C09029622

Media Release (days corrected in third paragraph)

An 18-year-old Hilo woman died Tuesday night (October 13) or Wednesday morning (October 14) from injuries she sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Maikalani Drive in the vicinity of Amauulu Street in Hilo.

The victim was identified as Sara Sutton.

South Hilo Patrol officers responded to an 8:27 a.m. call Wednesday [corrected day] reporting a crashed car with a deceased driver inside. Police determined that the driver and sole occupant had been operating a 2000 Honda two-door sedan and traveling west on Maikalani Drive when she ran off the right side of the road .2 miles west of Kupulani Street and struck a macadamia nut tree sometime between 6 p.m. Tuesday [corrected day] and 8:27 a.m. Wednesday [corrected day]. The driver was wearing a seat belt.

She was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was officially pronounced dead at 10:22 a.m.

Police believe that speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.

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

Because this crash occurred on a private road, it is not counted as a fatality for statistical purposes.

Police ask anyone who has information about Sutton’s activities Tuesday evening to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.