A 17-year-old Waikoloa girl died Tuesday night in a two-vehicle crash that closed Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway for hours, forcing traffic to be rerouted as traffic investigators and crime lab specialists documented the scene..

Police say Angela Apostadiro was the sole fatality in the crash that occurred around 8:00 p.m. on the busy Kona highway before at the 88 mile-marker, just south of the Hualālai Resort. Police say two other people are listed in serious condition.

According to a Hawaii County Police media release:

Responding to a 8:07 p.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 21-year-old Kealakekua man was operating a 2005 Hyundai multi-purpose vehicle and traveling south on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway when he overtook a vehicle, continued south on the northbound shoulder and passed other vehicles traveling northbound while on the shoulder lane.

The Hyundai then collided with a taxi, a 2000 GMC van traveling north and being operated by a 50-year-old Waikoloa woman.

Both drivers and an 88-year-old woman visiting from France, who may have been a fare in the taxi, were transported by Fire Rescue personnel to the Kona Community Hospital.

The 17-year-old girl was a front seat passenger in the taxi and was the daughter of the driver. She was pronounced dead at 12:05 a.m. (February 24).

Police say the driver of the taxi and the 88-year-old woman, who was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center for further treatment, were both listed in serious condition.

Police say of four people involved in the crash, none of them were wearing seat belts.

Police also believe that speed and alcohol contributed to this crash. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers arrested the driver of the Hyundai, identified as Joseph Edgar Jr., for negligent homicide, negligent injury, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, and reckless driving. Edgar was being held in the Kona Police Station cellblock pending further investigation.

Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway was closed for several hours between Kaiminani Road and Waikoloa Road and traffic rerouted as traffic investigators and crime lab specialists documented the scene. Fire officials say the debris field from the crash was over 150 yards long.

Police ask anyone who may have witnessed this crash or who has any information about it to call Officer Joshua Lewis at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the seventh traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with five at this time last year.

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