Posted on: Sunday, December 29, 2002

Puna crash victim was Papa'ikou woman

By Karen Blakeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

Big Island police have identified the woman killed Thursday in a three-car accident on Kea'au-Pahoa Road in Puna as 77-year-old Poliperia Domingcil of Papa'ikou.

Domingcil was a passenger in a 1995 Chevrolet sedan driven westbound on Kea'au-Pahoa Road, or Route 130, by Normus Castaneda, also of Papa'ikou, police said.

Castaneda's car collided with a 2000 Ford Ranger, driven by 50-year-old Kim Milner of Kea'au.

Milner's vehicle, which was traveling eastbound on the same road, was knocked into oncoming traffic when she was struck from behind by a 1995 Pontiac sedan driven by 35-year-old Alison Vares of Mountain View, Puna.

Domingcil was taken to Hilo Medical Center and died Thursday afternoon.

The others involved in the accident were treated at the hospital for minor injuries and released.

All occupants were wearing seat belts and the air bags in Castaneda's car deployed, police said.

An autopsy will be conducted, and police said they are continuing to investigate the accident.