Hawai‘i Police Department
Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Thomas Koyanagi
Phone: (808) 326-4646, Ext. 229
Report No. 23-107035
Media Release (Update)
A 33-year-old Nā‘ālehu woman who died in a single-vehicle collision on Māmalahoa Highway near Manuka State Park on Sunday, November 12, 2023, was positively identified yesterday as Annemarie Salvatore.
Responding to a call at 2:06 a.m., police investigators determined that Salvatore was operating a silver 2011 Mazda CX-9 traveling south on Māmalahoa Highway near the 84-mile marker when she ran off the right shoulder (makai) and went down a 20-foot embankment. The vehicle then rolled over and caught fire. Once the fire was extinguished, Salvatore’s body was located within the vehicle. She was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was later pronounced dead at 8:32 a.m.
Police determined that speed was a factor in the crash and are awaiting toxicology and autopsy results to determine if impairment was also a factor. Salvatore was not wearing her seatbelt.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation, which is still ongoing at this time.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to please contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or email at dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
