A late-night attempt to pass in a no-passing zone on Alii Drive turned deadly Sunday, leaving a 21-year-old woman dead and sending at least two others to the hospital near the north end of Kahaluʻu Beach Park in Kailua-Kona. Hawaii County police say they are still piecing together what led up to the three-vehicle crash.
According to Hawaii News Now, the collision happened around 9:28 p.m. when a northbound 2012 Toyota Tacoma crossed into the oncoming lane to pass another vehicle in a marked no-passing zone, then hit a southbound 2010 Nissan Frontier head-on. The Tacoma's driver, identified as 21-year-old Hinanui T. Starr-Boyle of Hilo, was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 10:17 p.m.
A 25-year-old Hilo man riding in the Tacoma and the 20-year-old Holualoa man driving the Frontier were taken to the hospital and listed in stable condition, Hawaii News Now reported. Police said a third vehicle was also involved in the incident. The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has opened a coroner's inquest case, and an autopsy has been ordered.
Investigation and Safety Trends
Police told reporters that speed and possible impairment are believed to be factors in the crash and said none of the people in the vehicles were wearing seat belts. The Hawaii Police Department reports that officers continue to make impaired-driving arrests and that fatal crashes on Hawaiʻi Island are up compared with the same time last year, underscoring why the department has kept a spotlight on DUI enforcement.
Why Alii Drive Keeps Drawing Crashes
Alii Drive, a tight two-lane coastal stretch that threads through some of Kailua-Kona's busiest spots, has a reputation for trouble. It has seen a string of collisions and emergency closures in recent years, according to county records and local reporting. Coverage from Big Island Now has highlighted previous crashes and detours along the corridor, and officials have periodically tested pilot projects and traffic tweaks in an effort to slow drivers down.
How To Help Investigators
Investigators are asking anyone who saw the crash or who may have relevant dash-cam or security video to contact Officer John Harvey of the Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit. Tips can be directed to (808) 326-4646, ext. 3229, or emailed to [email protected], according to Hawaii News Now.
Police arrested the driver of the Nissan Frontier on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, a criminal allegation that will be reviewed by prosecutors as the investigation and coroner's inquest move forward. The offense, known in Hawaiʻi as OVUII, is detailed in state law at HRS §291E-61 by the Hawaii Judiciary.
