A 13-year-old Waikoloa female, positively identified as Augustina James, died following a single vehicle collision on Thursday, November 18, near the intersection of Kamakoa Drive and Iwikuamo’o Drive in Waikoloa Village.

Police determined that a black 2007 Honda Accord 4 door sedan was heading south on Iwikuamo’o Drive when it drove off of the roadway and onto the sidewalk.  The vehicle then struck James and her teenage male friend.  The vehicle lost control and rolled over several times into a vacant lot.  James was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.  The male teenager was transported to North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for treatment and was later released.

The driver of the Honda Accord sedan, Jaychris Romer, 21-year-old male of Waikoloa and his 16-year-old male passenger also from Waikoloa were taken to North Hawaiʻi Community Hospital for treatment.  The driver and passenger of the Honda Accord sedan were treated and later released.

Romer was later arrested for Negligent Homicide in the first degree, Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence of an Intoxicant and Driving Without a License.  Romer was later released pending further investigation and toxicology results. Police believe that speed and impairment are possible factors in the collision.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a Negligent Homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Jason Foxworthy at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or via email at Jason.foxworthy@hawaiicounty.gov.

 

 

Photo credit: Hawaiʻi County Police Department