HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
DECEMBER 30, 2004
I-16934/KN
NEG HOMICIDE

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

A 17-year-old Holualoa girl who was critically injured in a four-vehicle collision Monday (December 27, 2004) on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona has died.

The victim was identified as Sarah Rosenberg, who was pronounced dead at 1:03 p.m. Thursday (December 30l, 2004) at the Kona Community Hospital.

Responding to an 8:53 a.m. call Monday, Kona patrol officers determined that the collision occurred about a half-mile north of the 92-mile marker.

They determined that a 1986 GMC flatbed truck registered to Suisan Company Ltd. was traveling south on the highway when it crossed the centerline, sideswiped a 2004 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, then struck the victim’s 1993 Toyota four-door sedan and finally struck a 2000 Chevrolet passenger van.

The driver of the GMC was also taken to the Kona hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.

Kona patrol officers have reclassified a negligent injury investigation to a negligent homicide, and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information about it is asked to call Officer Sharlotte Bird of the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 961-2332 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Thursday’s death was the 41st traffic fatality on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 35 for the same period last year.

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