Woman dies from Kona jeep rollover

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A 42-year-old Hilo woman has died from a single-vehicle crash the evening of Jan. 23 on Haku Nui Road in Captain Cook.

A 42-year-old Hilo woman has died from a single-vehicle crash the evening of Jan. 23 on Haku Nui Road in Captain Cook.

She has been identified as Chantel Kaaumoana.

Officers responding to a 9:24 p.m. call determined that a 1981 Jeep driven by a 34-year-old Captain Cook woman was westbound on Haku Nui Road when the driver lost control and overturned the vehicle.

The crash caused Kaaumoana to be ejected from the vehicle.

She was taken to Kona Community Hospital and then transferred to The Queens Medical Center on Oahu, where she was pronounced dead on Wednesday at 11:34 a.m.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Because this crash occurred on a private roadway, the death is not counted toward the official traffic fatality count, although unofficially, five have died on Big Island roads this year, with three officially counted.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who has information is asked to call Officer Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229, or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.