An adult woman died following a crash between a fuel tanker and a passenger van this morning on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road.
Her name is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of her family, police said.
Officers responding to a 4:41 a.m. call determined that a 2015 Ford passenger van was traveling west near the 21-mile marker when it crossed the center line and was sideswiped by an eastbound 2014 Kenworth fuel tanker with a trailer.
There were nine people in the van, police said.
Three rear seat passengers were taken to Hilo Medical Center via ambulance — a 22-year-old man and 23-year-old woman, both from Hilo, and a 23-year-old Keaau man.
All were treated and released.
The driver of the Kenworth, a 48-year-old Hilo man, wasn’t injured.
The woman who died was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 10:43 a.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Police think speed may have been a factor in this crash.
The highway was closed for about six hours while the Traffic Enforcement Unit investigated.
A negligent homicide case has been initiated, and anyone who witnessed this crash is asked to call Officer Erhard Autrata at 961-2339.
The death is the 28th official traffic fatality this year compared to 30 at this time last year.