UPDATED MEDIA RELEASE (10/14/09)

An 18-year-old Hilo woman died Tuesday night (October 13) or Wednesday morning (October 14) from injuries she sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Maikalani Drive in the vicinity of Amauulu Street in Hilo.

The victim was identified as Sara Sutton.

South Hilo Patrol officers responded to an 8:27 a.m. call Wednesday reporting a crashed car with a deceased driver inside. Police determined that the driver and sole occupant had been operating a 2000 Honda two-door sedan and traveling west on Maikalani Drive when she ran off the right side of the road .2 miles west of Kupulani Street and struck a macadamia nut tree sometime between 6 p.m. Tuesday and 8:27 a.m. Wednesday. The driver was wearing a seat belt.

She was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was officially pronounced dead at 10:22 a.m.

Police believe that speed and alcohol may have been factors in the crash.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Because this crash occurred on a private road, it is not counted as a fatality for statistical purposes.

Police ask anyone who has information about Sutton’s activities Tuesday evening to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118 or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

MEDIA RELEASE

Fire/rescue crews responded to an 8:27 a.m. alarm Wednesday (Oct 14) for a motor vehicle crash in Hilo on Maikalani Street, 100 yards west of the Puueo Mauka Drive intersection.

Upon arrival firefighters found a silver Honda sedan on the side of the roadway in a macadamia nut orchard with extensive damage to the driver’s side of the vehicle. One occupant, the driver, was found dead in the vehicle. The driver was extricated by firefighters and the scene was turned over to police.

Traffic was detoured to Amauulu Road. The cause of the crash is under investigation by police.