A 40-year-old Ka’u woman died in a single-vehicle traffic crash Tuesday evening in South Kona.
Police identified the victim as Denise Scott, of Ocean View.
Responding to a 10:16 p.m. call, police determined that Scott had been operating a 2006 Nissan pickup truck, and that she had been traveling south on the Mamalahoa Highway (also known as Highway 11) just south of mile marker 102 when she ran off the west shoulder of the roadway and struck a large tree, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Scott was taken to Kona Community Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Police believe speed and inattention were factors in this crash, but it is not immediately known if alcohol was a factor.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the 25th traffic fatality this year compared with 16 at this time last year.