A 30-year-old Kealakekua woman died Sunday (December 16) from injuries she sustained in a one-vehicle crash at the intersection of Wakea Avenue and Kamaoa Road in the Ka’u District.

The driver was identified as Larnell K. Chillingworth of a Kealakekua address.

Responding to a 3:40 a.m. call, Ka’u patrol officers determined that the driver was operating a 1991 Honda Accord 4-door sedan and traveling northwest on Wakea Avenue when she failed to stop at the stop sign at Kamaoa Road and crashed into a rock embankment.

Fire Department personnel transported the driver to Ka’u Hospital, where she died at 4:55 a.m.

The driver was wearing her seatbelt.

Police believe that speed and alcohol contributed to this crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. 

This is the 36^th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 33 at this time last year.