Posted on: Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Big Island crash kills baby, injures seven

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A month-old baby was killed and seven people injured in a two-car collision yesterday on the Big Island.

Police identified the infant as Luke Ault Jr., who was in a car with five other family members when the vehicle struck an oncoming car.

The accident occurred shortly before 9 a.m., and the child was pronounced dead about five hours later at Kona Community Hospital.

Police said Luke was sitting in his mother's lap in the front seat of a Honda Prelude as it headed west on Palm Parkway in the Hawaiian Ocean View Estates subdivision of Ka'u. They said the Honda crossed the center line and struck a Toyota being driven by a 16-year-old boy.

The six other occupants in the Honda — the baby's parents and four children ages 11 months to 6 years — were taken to Kona Community Hospital. One of the children was in critical condition, while the other passengers were in stable to serious condition, police said.

Police said none of the occupants of the Prelude was wearing a seat belt or in a child-restraint seat.

The driver of the Toyota, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Ka'u Community Hospital and later transferred to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

The fatality was the 26th on the Big Island so far this year, compared with 15 at the same time last year.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call officer Bradley Freitas at 961-2332, or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.