Hawai‘i Island police confirm elderly woman killed in 3-car crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway

An 80-year-old woman was killed and three elderly men were injured in a three-vehicle crash that closed Daniel K. Inouye Highway for several hours Saturday afternoon.

Responding to a traffic collision at 2:04 p.m., Hawai‘i Island police learned that a 2023 BMW sedan traveling east (Hilobound) on the highway was overtaking vehicles when it struck a 2013 Ford SUV traveling west (Konabound) head-on. The Ford SUV then struck a 2007 Chevy pickup truck heading east as well. All three vehicles sustained major damage due to the collision.

The driver of the BMW sedan, a 69-year-old man from Pāhoa, suffered injuries and was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was admitted for treatment of his injuries.

The driver of the 2007 Chevy pickup truck, a 65-year-old man from Pāhoa, suffered minor injuries and was transported to HMC for treatment.

An 85-year-old man from Keauhou, who was operating the Ford SUV, suffered injuries and was transported and admitted to HMC for treatment.

The front seat passenger of the Ford SUV, 80-year-old Diane Pittman, also from Keauhou, was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the hospital where she was pronounced deceased at 3:28 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The occupants of the Ford SUV were related.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and launched a negligent homicide investigation related to this incident. At this time, police believe that both speed and reckless driving were the primary factors in the crash.

If anyone has information regarding this collision, they are asked to contact Officer Laurence Davis at 808-961-2339 or via email at Laurence.Davis@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This is the eighth traffic fatality of 2024 as compared to 5 traffic fatalities this same time last year.