A-10-year old Honaunau girl died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a pickup truck on Mamalahoa Highway in South Kona.
A-10-year old Honaunau girl died Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a pickup truck on Mamalahoa Highway in South Kona.
Police identified her as Janexty Kaaloa.
Officers responding to a 1:10 p.m. call determined a tan 1987 Jeep pickup truck was traveling south near the 106-mile marker of Mamalahoa when it struck Kaaloa, who was running westbound across the highway.
The girl was taken to Kona community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:33 p.m.
The truck’s driver, 61-year-old William Herndon of Captain Cook, was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and later released pending further investigation.
It is not immediately known if speed was a factor in the crash.
A negligent homicide investigation has been opened and an autopsy has been ordered.
Kaaloa’s death is the 26th official traffic fatality of the year compared to 16 at this time last year.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.