1 dead, children among 6 injured in Hilo crash

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hawaii Island police are investigating a deadly crash that occurred on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, also known as Saddle Road, in North Hilo Thursday afternoon.

The crash happened at around 5 p.m., between mile markers 25 and 26 on Saddle Road, on the Hilo side of Mauna Kea Access Road.

South Hilo Patrol officers and personnel from the Hawai‘i Fire Department and Pōhakuloa Fire and Emergency Services, responded to a report of a head-on collision near mile marker 25.

According to police, a 2022 Toyota pickup was traveling Hilo-bound and overtook multiple vehicles on Saddle Road. The Toyota then struck a 2014 Subaru traveling in the opposite direction (Kona-bound) head on.

The driver of the Toyota pickup was identified as a 43-year-old male of Kurtistown.

As a result of the crash, five occupants inside the Subaru were transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment.

A sixth passenger, who was in the backseat of the Subaru, was identified as 47-year-old Anina Masaichy of Kailua-Kona.

Masaichy was found unresponsive at the scene and later pronounced dead at 7:53 p.m.

The five other Subaru occupants include a three-week-old female infant, a four-year-old boy, a 17-year-old girl, and two adults, an 18-year-old female and a 51-year-old male.

All five occupants sustained serious injuries.

Police said the infant and 4-year-old were medevaced to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children on Oahu, while the 17-year-old was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.

The 43-year-old Toyota driver was transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for his injuries and then medevaced to Queen’s Medical Center where he remains in serious condition.

Police arrested him for the following:

• Suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant
• First-degree negligent homicide     
• Three counts of first-degree negligent injury     
• Two counts of second-degree negligent injury   
• Reckless driving    
• Driving without a license

Police said speed, alcohol, and/or drugs are believed to be possible contributing factors in the crash.

County officials asked the public to avoid the highway between mile markers 24 and 25 for about four hours during the investigation. The highway has since reopened.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Laurence Davis at (808) 961-2391or via email at Laurence.Davis@hawaiipolice.gov.

Tipsters may also call the department’s non-emergency line at(808) 935-3311.

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