Update: Police identify man and woman killed in head-on crash in Volcano

Update at 7:54 a.m. Nov. 14: Hawai‘i Police Department has identified the man and woman killed in a head-on crash in the early morning of Nov. 9 in Volcano as 48-year-old Joanna Graves and 54-year-old David Makizuru, both from Volcano.

The crash happened sometime about 1 a.m. near the 24-mile marker on Highway 11 in Volcano.

A blue 2019 Jeep Renegade was traveling south on Highway 11 when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a white 1996 Toyota Camry being driven by Makizuru. Graves was a front seat passenger in the Camry.

The 39-year-old Kona woman driver of the Jeep was taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and then transported to The Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu. She has since been released fraom the hospital.

It is unknown at this time if drugs are a factor in this crash.

The Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit initiated two negligent homicide investigations and ordered autopsies to determine the exact cause of death for Graves and Makizuru.

Police do anticipate bringing charges in this investigation.

Original post at 10:24 p.m. Nov. 10: Hawai‘i Island police are investigating after a man and woman from Volcano were killed early Saturday morning in a head-on collision near the 24-mile marker on Highway 11 in Volcano.

Officers responded to the crash at 1:14 a.m Saturday and determined a blue 2019 Jeep Renegade being driven by a 39-year-old Kona woman was traveling south on Highway 11 when it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a white 1996 Toyota Camry being driven by a 54-year-old Volcano man.

The driver of the Camry and his 48-year-old female passenger, also from Volcano, were unresponsive at the scene.

They were transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead at 6:38 a.m.

Autopsies were ordered to determine the exact causes of their deaths.

The identities of 54-year-old Volcano man and 48-year-old Volcano woman are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin.

The driver of the Jeep was also transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center and subsequently taken to The Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu in stable condition.

Police think inattention and drugs could be factors in the crash.

Anyone who has information about this crash is asked to contact Officer Laurence Davis at 808-961-2339 or via email at laurence.davis@hawaiicounty.gov.  

Hawai‘i Police Department reports the deaths of the two Volcano residents bring the number of traffic fatalities to 27 so far for 2024.

That’s 12 more than the 15 traffic fatalities Big Island police recroded by the same time in 2023.