An 84-year-old Pahala woman died after a single-vehicle crash Monday afternoon on Highway 11 near the 51-mile marker in Pahala.
She has been identified as Julia Gonzaga.
Officers responding to a 12:29 p.m. call determined that a southbound 2012 Mazda minivan driven by an 84-year-old Pahala man, identified in a police log as Domingo Gonzaga, ran off the west shoulder of the road and struck a rock embankment. After the initial impact the van veered across the highway and struck another rock embankment on the east shoulder.
Julia Gonzaga, the front-seat passenger, was taken to the Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 2:08 p.m
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
A negligent homicide investigation has been opened and anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229, or call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Gonzaga’s death is the 12th official traffic fatality this year compared to 17 at this time last year.