Hawai‘i Police Department
East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit
Sergeant Jeremy Riddle
Phone: (808) 961-2391
Report No. 22-053010
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision in Pepe‘ekeo that killed a 63-year-old Mountain View woman on Saturday afternoon, June 18, 2022.
Responding to the 3:48 p.m. report of a traffic collision on Mamalahoa Highway, (Highway 19), in the area of the 10-mile marker in Pepe‘ekeo, police investigators determined that a 2002 Dodge pickup truck traveling Hamakua bound, crossed the center line while on the Wai‘a‘ama Stream Bridge and struck head on a 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck traveling Hilo bound.
The 63-year-old female driver of the Toyota pickup truck was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m. She has been identified as Joni Okino-Shiroma of Mountain View.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The operator of the Dodge pickup truck, 67-year-old Calvin Shimizu, was arrested for negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant. He was transported to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries sustained as a result of the collision.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Shimizu was released pending further investigation and admitted to Hilo Medical Center due to the severity of his injuries.
Police believe that speed and intoxication are primary factors in the outcome of this collision at this time.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing their investigation with the examination of the evidence and facts relative to any additional contributing factors relative to this incident.
This is the 20th fatal traffic collision of 2022 compared to 12 fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.
Police are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Jared Cabatu at (808) 961-2339 or via email Jared.Cabatu@HawaiiCounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
