July 15, 2008 – Volcanoes National Park Traffic Fatality
Puna Resident Dies after Auto Accident
On Saturday, June 15, at about 11:45 p.m., a single-car accident occurred at the 29-mile marker on H-11, near the park’s Hilo entrance. One of the passengers, a 17-year old female, died yesterday at The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu from internal injuries.
The passenger van, with a driver and two occupants, was traveling in a Hilo direction when, according to the driver, it hydroplaned, hit an embankment, and overturned. The 17-year old woman was thrown from the van.
National Park Service rangers, Kilauea military Camp federal firefighters, and Hawaii County Fire and Police personnel responded.
The 18-year old female driver was released at the scene and went home with her parents. The two passengers, both miinor females, were taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center. The 16-year old was treated and released. The 17-year old was airlifted to Honolulu.
The cause of the accident is under investigation. It is believed that the woman who died was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The weather that night was rainy.
This is the park’s first traffic fatality of the year.
[Awaiting verification from HCPD sources]
Hi Mike,
Do you have a comment about the posted information?
Barbara Scott, KTSC Co-Chair
January 19, 2009 at 7:41 am