North Kohala Crash Claims Life of Hakalau Woman

A Hakalau woman died Saturday afternoon in a traffic accident in North Kohala, police said today.

Theresa Doris Pacheco, 49, was driving a 2003 Hyundai sedan south near the 17-mile marker on the Akoni Pule Highway when she came upon a 2013 Ford sedan also traveling south.

Police said Pacheco swerved to the right to avoid a rear-end collision but struck the rear right corner of the Ford. Her car then ran off the right side of the roadway and overturned.

Pacheco was wearing a seat belt but was partially ejected from her car in the incident that occurred shortly before 3 p.m.

Police said speed was a factor in the crash. It is unknown whether drugs or alcohol may have been involved.

The driver of the Ford, a 62-year-old man from Atlanta, Georgia, was not injured.

An autopsy has been ordered.