HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
ACTING SERGEANT ROBERT E. HATTON
PHONE: 961-2332
JULY 27, 2004
H-99429

MEDIA RELEASE

An infant boy died Tuesday (July 27, 2004) of injuries he suffered in a two-car collision in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision of Ka’u.

The victim was identified as Luke Ault Jr., one month old, of a H.O.V.E. address. The infant was taken to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:49 p.m.

Responding to an 8:56 a.m. call, Ka’u patrol officers determined that a 1986 Honda Prelude was traveling west on Palm Parkway, a private road in the subdivision, when it crossed the centerline and struck a two-door 1991 Toyota Corolla traveling in the opposite direction.

The infant was sitting in his mother’s lap in the front seat when the collision occurred.

The driver of the Prelude, Luke Ault, 27, of an H.O.V.E. address, and his five other passengers, all of H.O.V.E., were taken to the Kona Community Hospital for treatment of injuries. Luke was reported in stable condition.

The front seat passenger, identified as Napualani Galletes, 23, who was holding the infant when the collision occurred, was reported in stable condition. The back seat passengers were identified as Chayla Ault, 2, reported in critical condition; Titan Ault, 5, stable condition; Staysha Ault, 6, serious condition; and Tiana Ault, 11 months, stable condition.

The driver of the Toyota, Jake Torres, 16, also of H.O.V.E., was taken to the Ka’u Community Hospital and later transferred to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

None of the persons in the Prelude were believed to be wearing seat belts, but the driver of the Toyota was wearing his.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing an investigation into the cause of the crash. Anyone with information about the collision or who witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Bradley Freitas of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Because Tuesday’s death occurred on a private subdivision road, it was not counted as a traffic fatality for statistical purposes.

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