Hawaii County police: Speed, inattention apparent factors in crash that left 3 people dead

GLENWOOD (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii County police said speed and inattention appear to be factors in a crash Sunday night that left three people dead, including two people from out-of-state.

The crash happened happened around 7:30 p.m. on Highway 11 in Mountain View, between North Oshiro Road and Lehuanani Street.

Police said a Toyota 4Runner was heading southbound on the highway when it crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a Jeep SUV head on.

Another vehicle that was heading southbound — a Volvo sedan — hit the Toyota 4Runner and sustained minor damage.

Police say visibility in the area is terrible with only parts of the of the straightaway lit.

“It wasn’t a curve in the road. And although some people might think initially somebody was passing illegally, and that’s true, that could have been what happened, and that’s part of what we were going to put together in the investigation,” said acting assistant Chief Kenneth Quicoho.

“But, you know, impairment has a lot to do with the way somebody is operating a motor vehicle, too. All it takes is for a split second for that person to cross over that center line.”

The two occupants in the Jeep — a 44-year-old male driver and 45-year-old female passenger — were transported to Hilo Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

Police said the two in the Jeep were from out of state, but did not elaborate.

The female driver of the 4Runner, a 34-year-old Hawaii Island resident, was also pronounced dead.

The identities of those who died have not been released yet. Autopsies have also been ordered.

All lanes of Highway 11 were shut down in the area for several hours, but they have since been reopened. The crash remains under investigation.

This story will be updated.

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