2 sisters die
in Big Isle accident

The family pickup truck rolled
over the girls in their own driveway

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By Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.com

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii >> Two young sisters were killed when a family pickup truck accidentally rolled over them at a remote ranch in upland Kona above Kealakekua yesterday, authorities said.

The names of the girls, ages 3 and 12, were not released by police.

The Fire Department, which provides ambulance service on the Big Island, identified the property where the accident occurred as belonging to John Kauhaihao in an area called Waihou.

Responding to an 8:37 a.m. call, police learned that the girls had been sitting in a Ford F-350 four-door truck while it was stationary, police said.

The girls' mother had left the truck, police Lt. Glenn Nojiri said.

Family members told police the 3-year-old got out first, followed by the 12-year-old.

Shortly afterward, the truck rolled down the sloping driveway and ran over both children, police said.

A Fire Department medical van arrived at the scene about 12 minutes after receiving a call, said acting Fire Capt. Mervyn Abe.

Medical personnel found the two girls dead of head injuries, a Fire Department statement said.

Taken to Kona Community Hospital, the 3-year-old was declared dead at 10:54 a.m., followed by her sister at 10:55 a.m., the Fire Department said.

An investigation is continuing, and a mechanical inspection of the vehicle is planned, police said.

Retired Kona teacher Eugene Yap said both of the girls' parents had been in history classes he taught in the past.

"These are good people," he said. "There shouldn't be any shadow cast on them."

The Kauhaihao home is part of a ranch area owned by former police Capt. Edwin Nobriga, Yap said.

It is a beautiful area of green pastures and rolling hills, Yap said.

The site is several miles up a private, four-wheel-drive road above the Hawaii Belt Road in the area of Kainaliu, said police Lt. Glenn Nojiri.

Joseph Kauhaihao, who identified John as his nephew, said John's home has no electricity or telephones.