HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
MARCH 27, 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
A 66-year-old Kailua-Kona woman died Monday (March 27, 2006) from injuries she received in a three vehicle traffic collision on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway, 857 feet north of Poni Place in Kailua-Kona.
The victim was identified as Cristina GALUTIRA of a Kailua-Kona address.
Responding to a 4:49 a.m call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 2006 Ford four-door sedan was traveling south on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway when the driver crossed the centerline and collided with a 2004 Honda 4-door sedan traveling north. After the collision, the Ford was struck by a 1999 Plymouth four-door sedan traveling north.
The victim in this case was a passenger in the Honda sedan and was pronounced dead at 7:03 a.m. at the Kona Community Hospital.
The driver of the Honda, a 69-year-old Kailua-Kona man and husband of the victim was transported to the Kona Community Hospital by Fire Rescue personnel where he was undergoing surgery.
The driver of the Plymouth, a 61-year-old Kailua-Kona man was listed in stable condition.
The driver of the Ford, a 22-year-old woman from Keauhou was arrested for suspicion of Driving Under the Influence of an Intoxicant, Negligent Homicide, 2 counts of Negligent Injury. She was being treated for minor injuries.
The occupants of all vehicles were wearing their seatbelts.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 10th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared to eleven at the same time last year.
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