Three-Vehicle Collision Results in Two Fatalities

Route 130. Photo by Hunter Bishop

Hawai‘i Island police reported today that two Kea‘au residents, a 26-year-old man and an 86-year-old woman, were killed Tuesday, Dec. 29, in a three-vehicle collision on the Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road (Route 130) near the two-mile marker in Keaʻau.

The 26-year-old was identified as Sean Magee; the 86-year-old was identified as Eleanor Benedict.

Responding to a 1:46 p.m. call, Puna patrol officers determined that Magee was driving a 2012 Nissan four-door sedan, traveling east on the Keaʻau-Pāhoa Road, when he crossed the center line and collided with a 2002 Toyota RAV 4 multi-purpose vehicle being operated by a 54-year-old Keaʻau woman traveling west.

After that initial collision, the Toyota collided with a 2005 Ford pickup truck that was also traveling west and being operated by a 24-year-old Hilo man.

Benedict was a passenger in the Toyota RAV 4.

Fire and rescue personnel took the driver of the Toyota to Hilo Medical Center, where she was being treated for a leg injury.

The driver of the Ford pick-up truck was not injured.

The deceased were taken to Hilo Medical Center, where they were officially pronounced dead at 6:30 p.m. last night.

It is unknown if speed, alcohol or drugs were involved.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated negligent homicide and coroner’s inquest cases and have ordered autopsies to determine the exact cause of death.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Keith Nacis at 961-8119.

This is the 18th and 19th traffic fatality this year compared with 11 at this time last year.