Police ID woman killed in Pepeekeo crash
Hawaii Island on Monday identified a woman killed in head-on collision Saturday afternoon in Pepeekeo.
The Hawaii Police Department identified the victim as 63-year-old Joni Okino-Shiroma, of Mountain View.
Responding to the 3:48 p.m. report of a traffic crash near mile marker 10 on, in the of Pepeekeo, police determined that a 2002 Dodge pickup truck traveling Hamakua bound, crossed the center line while on the Wai‘a‘ama Stream Bridge and struck head on a 2007 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck traveling in the Hilo direction.
Okino-Shiroma, the driver of the Toyota pickup truck, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 6:19 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The operator of the Dodge pickup truck, 67-year-old Calvin Shimizu, was arrested for negligent homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
Shimizu was subsequently released pending further investigation and admitted to Hilo Medical Center due to the severity of his injuries.
Police suspect speed and intoxication are primary factors in the crash.
This is the 20th fatal traffic collision of 2022 compared to 12 fatal traffic collisions during this same time period last year.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash should contact Officer Jared Cabatu at (808) 961-2339 or via email Jared.Cabatu@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
