HAWAII POLICE DEPARTMENT
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT UNIT
SERGEANT CHRISTOPHER D. GALI
PHONE: 961-2332
FEBRUARY 12, 2007
REPORT NO. C07004849
MEDIA RELEASE (UPDATE)
Police have recovered a pickup truck that may have been involved in a fatal vehicle/pedestrian crash that killed a 2-year-old Keaau girl Saturday (February 10) in Puna.
Police are still investigating whether the truck was the vehicle that hit the girl at a home in the Orchidland Subdivision.
The victim was identified as Abygail Arquitola of Keaau. An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday to determine the exact cause of the her death.
Responding to a 6:12 p.m. call Saturday, Puna patrol officers determined that the girl and her family were at a friend’s home for a gathering on 38th Avenue when someone apparently ran over the child at the rear of the residence. The driver then left the scene, possibly not knowing that the girl had been struck.
Fire Rescue personnel took her to Hilo Medical Center, where she died at 7:19 p.m.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a standard negligent homicide investigation.
Police ask anyone with information about the case to call Officer Andres Fojas at 961-8889.
Because this death occurred on private property, it is not counted toward the island’s traffic fatality count.
# # #