Police have identified a 3-year-old Hilo girl who died Tuesday evening after being struck by a sport-utility vehicle in the parking lot of a Puueo Street apartment building as Kawenalanionapua Low-Hopeau.
Police have identified a 3-year-old Hilo girl who died Tuesday evening after being struck by a sport-utility vehicle in the parking lot of a Puueo Street apartment building as Kawenalanionapua Low-Hopeau.
Officers responding to a 6:26 p.m. call, determined that a 2008 Ford sport-utility vehicle driven by a 66-year-old Hilo woman was moving north in the parking lot of the Val Hala Apartments and struck the girl.
According to a written Fire Department statement, arriving paramedics found police performing CPR on the girl, who was suffering traumatic cardiac arrest.
She was pronounced dead at 7 p.m. at Hilo Medical Center.
The driver was not injured.
Police do not believe that speed or alcohol were factors in the collision and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Clarence Acob at 961-2293 or email: clarence.acob@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Because the girl’s death didn’t occur on a public roadway, it isn’t counted as an official traffic fatality for statistical purposes.