Posted at 9:51 a.m., Thursday, July 27, 2006
Big Island woman killed in front yard identified
HILO, Hawai'i — An 88-year-old Honalo woman suffered fatal injuries yesterday when she was hit by a car while gardening in her front yard off Route 180.Police said a southbound 1987 Suzuki multipurpose vehicle ran off the right side of the road and struck Mildred Mitamura at about 2:40 p.m. The collision occurred about a half-mile north of the Kuakini Highway intersection.
Mitamura was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 6:26 p.m. Police arrested the driver, a 62-year-old Captain Cook man, on suspicion of negligent homicide, but later released him while the investigation continues.
The Big Island has recorded 19 traffic fatalities this year, the same as at this time a year ago.
