A 39-year-old Puna woman was killed yesterday when she was run over by her pickup truck as she was securing a gate to a private driveway.

The victim was identified as Julie Marie Ellison of Hawaiian Beaches.

The accident occurred off Pohoiki Road, about a half-mile south of Leilani Estates.

Police were called at 3:26 p.m. and told that Ellison had been driving a 1996 Ford pickup truck pulling a trailer and exiting a private driveway onto Pohoiki Road when she stopped outside the gate and got out to secure it behind her truck.

She apparently had left the vehicle running with the transmission in park, police said, but failed to set the brake. As she began to close the gate, the truck and trailer rolled backward over her.

A neighbor heard a crash and ran over to find the vehicle, still running in the parking gear, on top of the victim.

Ellison was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers are continuing an investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. A mechanical inspection also will be made on the victim's truck, police said.

Man with mask robs Iwilei Kmart

Detectives are investigating a robbery this morning at the Iwilei Kmart store, in which a man allegedly smashed a jewelry case and fled with an undetermined amount of merchandise.

The robbery occurred at 5:10 a.m., when the suspect – wearing black clothing, mask and gloves – allegedly used a crowbar to break into a case of Hawaiian jewelry. He was chased out the front of the store but then escaped when he allegedly pointed a gun at his pursuer, who gave up the chase.

Fire damages Big Island home

Big Island fire officials estimated losses at $75,000 to a home in Captain Cook that burned at 10 p.m. yesterday.

The blaze at the four-bedroom home on St. Johns Road in Ka'awaloa was extinguished at 10:33 p.m., officials said.