Big Isle KAILUA-KONA >> Two people were killed and four injured in a three-car accident involving 10 people on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in North Kona yesterday, police said. Alcohol was involved, police said.
wreck kills 2
Alcohol was involved in
the 3-car accident
that injured 4 othersBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comPolice identified one victim as Miriam Fernandez, 49, of Waimea, the driver of the second of the three cars.
The name of the second fatality, a 31-year old male passenger in the first car, was withheld pending notification of his kin.
The accident took place shortly before 4:30 p.m. when the 53-year-old woman driving the first car tried to pass in a no-passing zone while heading toward Kailua, police said. She hit an oncoming car driven by Fernandez, then bounced back into her own lane, hitting a Kailua-bound car driven by Brandon Silva, 19, of Honokaa.
The driver of the first car, whose name was not released, was taken to Queen's Medical Center where she was listed in critical condition.
Fernandez, the driver of the second car, was also killed. Three passengers in Fernandez' car were taken to Kona Hospital, two in serious condition, and one in fair condition. Silva and his three passengers were not injured.
Police said they are investigating two negligent homicide, a drunken driving, and three negligent injury cases.
The fatalities brought the Big Island traffic toll for the year to 18 compared with 20 at the same time last year.
Statewide, there have been 68 traffic deaths this year compared with 71 during the same period last year.