HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
MARCH 2, 2006
MEDIA RELEASE
A 5 year-old Waimea girl died Thursday (March 2, 2006) from injuries she received in a two vehicle collision on the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19), .7 miles west of the 28 Mile-Marker at the top of the Kaawalii Gulch in North Hilo.
The victim was identified as Kahikina Butler of a Waimea address.
Responding to a 3:59 p.m. call, North Hilo patrol officers determined that a 2001 Dodge Multi-purpose vehicle was traveling north on Route 19, when the driver, a 32-year-old female from Waimea lost control, crossed the centerline and collided with a county Hele-On bus traveling south.
An 11-year-old female, who was a passenger in the Dodge was flown by the Fire Department medical helicopter to the North Hawaii Community Hospital where she sustained two broken legs.
The driver of the bus, 60-year-old Pahoa man and his thirty-one passengers were not injured. The driver of the Dodge was also not injured.
It appears that the two children were not wearing their seatbelts.
The victim was pronounced dead at 7:20 p.m. at the Hilo Medical Center and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation.
It is unknown at this time if speed or alcohol were factors.
This is the 7th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year, compared to nine at the same time last year.
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