Kona crash proves fatal

A 77-year-old Kona woman was killed Thursday after being involved in a four-vehicle collision at the intersection of Route 190 and Hinalani Street in Kailua-Kona.

Responding to a 2:58 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that the woman was operating a 2011 Hyundai multi-purpose vehicle and traveling south on Route 190 when she rear-ended a 2006 Toyota four-door sedan being operated by a 34-year-old Waikoloa man.

The Hyundai continued south and sideswiped a 1999 Jeep multi-purpose vehicle traveling north which was being operated by a 42-year-old woman from Kailua-Kona.

Debris from the crash also damaged a 1998 Mazda pick-up truck traveling north and being operated by a 51-year-old Kailua-Kona man.

The Hyundai continued south on Route 190, struck a stop sign at the intersection of Route 180, ran off the left side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned in the parking lot of an old nursery which is just south of the Route 190 and Route 180 intersection.

The Hyundai then caught on fire and the driver was burned in the vehicle.

The drivers of the other vehicles were not injured.

The woman was taken to Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 7:09 p.m.

Her name is being withheld pending positive identification.

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

Police are investigating whether the woman suffered from a medical condition prior to the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Larry Flowers at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 12th official traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with eight at this time last year.