HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER GALI
PHONE: 961-2232
SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
C05030699

MEDIA RELEASE

Four people were killed Saturday (September 10, 2005) from injuries they sustained in a motor vehicle/tractor trailer crash on Route 190 in the area of the 32 Mile Marker in North Kona.

Responding to a 3:20 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 1992 Honda, 4 door sedan, was traveling south on Route 190 when it crossed the centerline and collided with a 2005 International tractor trailer traveling north. The driver of the tractor trailer attempted to avoid the collision by driving onto the right shoulder and struck the embankment and caught fire.

Three male occupants of the Honda were killed and pronounced dead at the Kona Community Hospital at 8:09 a.m. A 42-year-old female passenger in the Honda and the driver of the tractor trailer were transported to the Kona Community Hospital by Fire Rescue. The female passenger later died at 4:13 a.m.

Two passengers in the Honda were identified as Jaime Villamil Cortes, 30 and Nabor Rosas Hernandez, 33, of Kailua-Kona. The driver of the tractor trailer was identified as Kyle Fujimoto, 50, of Hilo, who was treated for minor injuries and released. The names of the driver of the Honda and the female passenger are being withheld pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

Alcohol is believed to be factors in this crash. The only people wearing seatbelts were the driver of the tractor trailer and the front seat passenger of the Honda.

A standard negligent homicide investigation has been initiated and autopsies have been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Route 190 was closed to traffic while traffic investigators documented the scene and the road was cleared by the State Highway’s Division. The roadway was re-opened at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday’s deaths brings the death toll to 28 fatalities on the Big Island this year, compared to 29 at the same time last year.

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