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Hilo Woman Dies in Traffic Collision 05-03-01

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT SAMUEL V. JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
MAY 3, 2001

MEDIA RELEASE

A Hilo woman died Thursday afternoon (May 3, 2001) following a two-car collision that occurred Kaholo Bridge near the 31-mile marker on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19) in North Hilo.

The victim was identified Dana Calderon, 47, of a Keaukaha address in Hilo. She and her husband had recently moved to the Big Island from Maryland.

Responding to a 3:36 p.m. call, police determined that the victim was driving a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero toward Hilo when she lost control of the vehicle, which struck the right side of the bridge, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a 2001 Nissan Maxima rental car driven by George Kinzer. A third car, a 1995 Mazda Prodege driven by Macculate St. Clair, also heading toward Hilo and following the victim’s car, attempted to avoid the collision and struck the right side of the bridge, but did not strike the other two cars.

All persons involved in the accident were taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where Calderon was pronounced dead at 8:08 p.m. George Kinzer, 63, and his wife, Hazel Kinzer, 61, both visiting from Littleton, Colorado, remained confined in the Hilo hospital Thursday night in stable condition.

Macculate St. Clair, 66, of a Keaau address, was treated and released. Her front-seat passenger, Frances Capo, 92, remained confined at the hospital in stable condition.

Calderon had not been wearing a seat belt; the occupants of the other vehicles had been wearing their seat belts. All three cars deployed airbags. The weather was clear at the time of the crash.

The accident forced the closure of the highway for about 3 1/2 hours while police documented the scene and Public Works Department personnel cleaned auto fluids spilled on the road surface.

Thursday’s death was the 11th traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 10 at the same time last year.

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