Two Women Die In Separate Single-Car Crashes

Twenty-five year-old Christina K. Fujiyama of Keaʻau died Sunday from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle crash on 20th Avenue in the Hawaiian Paradise Park, Hawaii County police reported.

Responding to a 3:28 p.m. call, Puna patrol officers said Fujiyama was driving a 1994 Acura four-door sedan east on 20th Avenue, just off Kaloli Drive, when she lost control and struck a rock wall.

County rescue personnel took her to Hilo Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 4:20 p.m. She was not wearing a seat belt and had been ejected from the vehicle, police said.

Speed was a factor in the crash but police said it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were involved. Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have begun a coroner’s inquest and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask anyone with information about the crash to call Officer Clarence Acob at 961-2293.

Fujiyama was the second fatality in a one-car crash in less than week on the Big Island.

Ninety-year-old Jane K. Ota of Kailua-Kona died Thursday following a single-car crash on Route 190 at Kalaoa Street in in Kailua-Kona.

Responding to a 2:30 p.m. call, Kona Patrol officers said Ota was driving a 1999 Ford Escort four-door sedan south on Route 190 between the 32- and 33-mile markers. As she approached the junction at Kalaoa Street, she lost control, veered across the centerline onto the northbound shoulder where she hit a rock embankment and the car rolled onto its roof.

Fire/rescue personnel extracted Ota from the car and took her to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 3:25 p.m.

Police said they do not believe that alcohol, drugs or speed were contributing factors. The Traffic Enforcement Unit has begun a coroner’s inquest case and ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask that anyone who witnessed the collision call Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229.

Ota was the 9th fatality this year compared with 21 at this time last year.

Because Fujiyama’s death occurred in a private subdivision, it is not counted toward the official Hawaii County traffic fatality count.