A 49-year-old woman died Sunday evening after crashing the mo-ped she was riding into a tree on Government Beach Road in Puna.
Hawaii Police Department officers responded to a 5:08 p.m. report of a single-vehicle crash on Government Beach Road, just north of Papaya Farms Road, to find a 2016 Kymco moped had struck a tree and ended up in 4-foot ditch. The woman driving the mo-ped had apparently veered off the left shoulder of the roadway.
Police Tuesday afternoon identified the victim as Fawn K. Jost, of Pahoa. She suffered severe trauma to her head as a result of the crash and was unresponsive at the scene. She was later transported to Hilo Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 9:05 p.m.
An autopsy was conducted on Tuesday, but police are awaiting toxicology results before making a final determination.
Police investigating the traffic collision have determined Jost was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. Police have not determined if speed, alcohol and/or drugs are factors in this investigation at this time.
This is the 12th fatal traffic crash of 2021 compared to 10 fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information should contact Officer Blayne Matsui at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Blayne.Matsui@HawaiiCounty.gov.