HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
OFFICER SAMUEL JELSMA
PHONE: 961-2332
JUNE 5, 2000
G-31044
MEDIA RELEASE
A 52-year-old Kohala woman died Monday afternoon (June 5, 2000) following a head-on collision that occurred on Queen Kaahumanu Highway (Route 19) near the 96-mile marker in North Kona.
The victim was identified as Bonnie Lee Wahl of Kapaau, North Kohala.
Responding to a 3:15 p.m. call, police determined that a 1988 GMC pick-up driven by a George Lopes III, 23, of Honomu, South Hilo, was heading south on the highway when it crossed the centerline and struck a 1984 Mercedes sedan just north of the Hinalani Street intersection in the Koloko area.
The driver of the Mercedes, Manfred Wahl, 62, his wife, Bonnie Lee, and Lopes were transported to Kona Hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead at 4:09 p.m. Manfred Wahl and Lopes remain in serious condition Monday evening at the hospital.
The victim had been a front-seat passenger in the vehicle driven by her husband.
Witnesses reported that Lopes’ truck had been weaving before the collision.
Wahl’s death was the 11th traffic fatality so far this year on the Big Island, compared to nine at the same time last year.
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