Police Investigating Kea‘au Car Crash That Killed Woman

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a single-vehicle car crash that occurred Monday evening, March 31, 2025, in Kea‘au that left a Puna woman dead.

Officers responding to a 9:34 p.m. call, learned that a 2018 Nissan Sentra four-door sedan was traveling east on Maku‘u Drive in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision when it failed to stop at the posted stop sign at the intersection of Maku‘u Drive and Ala Heiau Road. The vehicle continued to travel east eventually striking a rock wall.

The female operator, estimated to be in her 40s, was the lone occupant of the vehicle. She was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center where she was pronounced deceased at 11:34 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The identity of the woman is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and is continuing the investigation, which has been classified as a coroner’s inquest. At this time, police believe that alcohol, inattention, and not wearing a seatbelt, were primary factors in the crash.

Police ask that if anyone has information regarding this collision to please contact Officer Jerome Duarte at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Jerome.Duarte@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 9th traffic fatality of 2025 as compared to 5 traffic fatalities this same time last year.