Two women killed following three-vehicle crash in Hilo

Hawai‘i Island police are investigating a three-vehicle traffic collision in Hilo on Saturday that left two women dead.

They are also the third and fourth traffic fatalities in a week on Hawai‘i Island roads.

Responding to the reported traffic collision at 5:44 p.m., police learned that a 2007 Honda Accord was traveling south on Kanoelehua Avenue, near Pi‘ilani Street when it lost control and veered into and across the grassy center median into oncoming northbound traffic. The Honda clipped the rear end of a 2016 Acura sedan before being broadsided by a 2019 Subaru Forester.

A 20-year-old woman from Hilo who was driving the Acura did not report any injuries at the time of the collision and the vehicle sustained minor damage.

A 19-year-old woman from Hilo, who was driving the Subaru, also did not report any injuries at the time of the collision, however, the Subaru sustained major damage and was inoperable.

The driver of the Honda, 42-year-old Aja-Ly Iopa, from Hilo, and the front seat passenger, 43-year-old Sencirea Cabral, from Kurtistown, were unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Medical Center where they were pronounced deceased at 6:25 p.m. Both women appeared to not be wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.

Autopsies have been ordered to determine the exact causes of death.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation related to this traffic collision. At this time, police believe that speed and not using seatbelts are the primary factors in the collision.

Anyone with information regarding this collision may contact Officer Laurence Davis at 808-961-2339 or via email at [email protected]. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This is the tenth and eleventh traffic fatality this year compared to five traffic fatalities this same time last year.