3-year-old Waikōloa girl dies after hit by SUV in residential complex parking lot

A 3-year-old Waikōloa girl died Friday evening (Feb. 20) after being hit by a midsize sport utility vehicle in a parking lot at a Waikōloa residential complex.

Hawai‘i Police Department Area II Traffic Enforcement initiated a major traffic collision investigation following the incident.

Authorities are not releasing the toddler’s name because of her age.

Police responded at about 7:15 p.m. Friday to a single-vehicle collision in the parking lot of a residential complex off Waikōloa Road, also known as Highway 191.

A preliminary investigation revealed that a 26-year-old Waikōloa woman was reversing a gray 2017 Nissan Pathfinder when the toddler reportedly ran behind the vehicle and was subsequently hit.

The 3-year-old little girl — critically injured by the reversing Nissan — was transported to Queen’s North Hawai‘i Community Hospital in Waimea, where she was pronounced dead at 8:50 p.m.

Police do not think speed, alcohol or drugs are factors in the incident.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone who witnessed the collision should contact Officer Adam Roberg at 808-326-4646, ext. 229, or via email at adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.

This fatality does not affect the year-to-date fatality count because the collision happened in a parking lot.