KAILUA-KONA — A 28-year-old woman suffered severe injuries following a two-vehicle collision Tuesday night on Highway 190 and is still in critical condition at North Hawaii Community Hospital.
The Hawaii Police Department responded to a 6:47 p.m. call Tuesday on Highway 190, near Puuanahulu, north of the 20-mile marker. HPD determined that a 62-year-old man was operating a white 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe SUV when he struck a red 2005 Ford Explorer SUV that had broken down in the middle of the roadway. The Ford Explorer was blocking both lanes of travel and was in a dip in the roadway.
Jarae Marienau, the passenger of the Ford Explorer, was attempting to push the vehicle off the road along with the vehicle’s 29-year-old male driver when the Ford Explorer and Marienau were both struck by the Hyundai.
Marienau was then transported to North Hawaii Community Hospital.
On Wednesday afternoon, Marienau’s sister, Erica Currey, said Marienau was still in critical condition, and doctors at the hospital were determining whether to transport her to an Oahu hospital.
Currey said Marienau suffered a traumatic brain injury and a broken cheekbone in the face from the crash.
“We don’t believe there are other broken bones. It’s hard to tell since she is not conscious and able to say what hurts,” Currey said. “They are concerned mostly with one part of her brain that didn’t seem to be swelling last night, but it certainly is today.”
The driver of the Ford Explorer and the driver of the Hyundai Sante Fe were not injured in the collision.
Marienau, originally from Sandpoint, Idaho, only just moved to the Big Island a few weeks ago.
“She’s there working on a coffee farm,” Currey said. “She was on the island a few months ago, and fell absolutely in love — packed her stuff and away she went.”
Currey said some of Marienau’s family, including her mother, will arrive on the Big Island by tonight from Spokane, Washington, to be with her in the hospital.
Marienau’s birthday is Sunday.
“It’s also almost her birthday, so the timing is tough for the family,” Marienau said. “Some of the family is trying to get there as fast as they can. It’s not an easy task being so far away, so we’re trying to get someone there as fast as possible.”
Police do not believe that speed factored in the collision in the 35 mph zone.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent injury investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact officer Jason Foxworthy at 326-4646 ext. 229.
This is the third major car crash on the west side of the island in the past few weeks. On Nov. 10, Cassandra “Cassie” Ellis was killed in a collision near mile marker 90 on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. Her daughter, Taylor Campogan, and Campogan’s friend, Kawena Haserot, were both seriously injured in the crash caused by a suspected drunken driver.
Both 15-year-olds were flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu to recover.
Ellis’ 10-year-old daughter, Trinity, also sustained minor injuries.
On Tuesday morning, 28-year-old Shelby Ho’okahi died following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 11. In the car with Ho’okahi was also a 3-year-old female child who was transported to Kona Community Hospital for treatment and was later released.
The operator of the other vehicle involved in the crash was initially transported to Kona Community Hospital and was listed in critical condition. She was later transported to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
