Police identified a 19-year-old Kailua-Kona woman who died following a single-car collision March 19 in Captain Cook as Erika Fredrika Neilson.
Police identified a 19-year-old Kailua-Kona woman who died following a single-car collision March 19 in Captain Cook as Erika Fredrika Neilson.
Officers responding to a 7 p.m. call determined a black 2010 Infinity four-door sedan heading mauka on Ke Ala O Keawe Road crossed the double solid yellow line, drove into a guardrail, went airborne and down an embankment before bursting fully into flames.
Neilson, a passenger, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 10:40 p.m.
The driver, 19-year-old Roman Kozinskiy, and a 24-year-old female passenger, both from Kailua-Kona, were taken to Kona Community Hospital, where they were treated and later released.
Kozinskiy was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide and DUI. He was released from custody Sunday, pending further investigation.
Police think speed and impairment are factors in the collision and are awaiting toxicology results from an autopsy conducted Wednesday on Neilson.
Anyone who might have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Officer Cory Gray at 326-4646, ext. 229, or cory.gray@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
