Two fatal car crashes that occurred within an hour of each other Wednesday claimed the lives of three Maui County residents.

Police said Patricia Leengrow, 38, of Lahaina, was driving a 2002 Nissan sedan in the Lahaina-bound lane of Honoapi'ilani Highway when her car collided with a 2002 Nissan sport utility vehicle headed in the opposite direction. The collision occurred at about 10 p.m. Wednesday just south of Napilihau Road.

Leengrow died several hours later at Maui Memorial Medical Center. The 42-year-old man who was driving the other car was treated at the hospital and released.

On Moloka'i, two men died around 11 p.m. Wednesday when their car hit another vehicle at the intersection of Pu'upe'elehua and Farrington avenues in Ho'olehua. Police said Parez Kahikina, 51, and Ronald Kalilikane, 58, were thrown from their SUV and their bodies found in a roadside pasture.

It was not immediately known which victim was driving, police said.

The 31-year-old Moloka'i man driving the second vehicle involved in the collision was flown to Maui with serious injuries.

There have been 20 traffic fatalities in Maui County so far this year compared with the same number a year ago.