51-year-old Ocean View woman dead following early morning 2-vehicle collision in Ocean View

Hawaiʻi Police Department is investigating a two-vehicle collision in Kaʻū that claimed the life of a 51-year-old Ocean View woman early the morning of Aug. 1.

The 51-year-old was identified as Stephanie Ann Mello of Ocean View. She was pronounced dead at 6:51 a.m. Saturday at Kona Community Hospital.

Kaʻū Patrol officers responded at 12:53 a.m. Saturday to a reported 2-vehicle collision near the 76-mile marker of Highway 11 after police dispatch received an automated iPhone crash detection alert followed by several 9-1-1 calls reporting the collision.

Preliminary investigation indicates a silver 2002 Toyota Highlander was turning right onto the eastbound, or Volcano-bound, lane of Highway 11 from Kohala Boulevard when an eastbound red 2015 Toyota Tacoma approached the intersection at a high rate of speed.

The Tacoma appeared to have swerved into the westbound lane in an attempt to avoid the Highlander but struck the vehicle, causing both vehicles to collide with the guardrail and the Tacoma overturning multiple times, ejecting its passenger Mello before coming to a rest on its roof.

A 52-year-old Ocean View man driving the Tacoma and a 60-year-old Ocean View woman driving the Highlander were transported to Kona Community Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Both are listed in stable condition.

Investigators determined the occupants of the Tacoma were not wearing seatbelts.

Speed and alcohol are thought to be contributing factors in the crash. Hawaiʻi Police Department Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit initiated a negligent homicide investigation, which is ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has information about the incident is asked to contact Officer Adam Roberg at 808-326-4646, extension 3229.

This is the 20th traffic fatality so far in 2026 on Hawaiʻi Island compared with 14 during the same period last year.