Hawaii Island Police Searching for Puna Woman Wanted in Connection with Burglary and Domestics

Hawaiʻi Island police are searching for a 40-year-old Puna woman wanted in connection with a reported burglary and domestic incident in Kurtistown on August 16.

Mary Lolita Santos

Mary Lolita Santos of Mountain View is also wanted on a $5,000 bench warrant for a felony theft case. She is described as 5-foot-2, 147 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone who knows her whereabouts to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Officer Edwin Namohala at 961-2373.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

 

39-Year-Old Big Island Man Dies in Highway 11 Crash

A 39-year-old Kurtistown man died Thursday (August 2) from injuries he sustained in a one-vehicle crash on Highway 11 midway between the 48- and 49-mile markers.

Responding to a 12:43 a.m. call, Kaʻu patrol officers determined that the victim was operating a 1987 Ford sedan and traveling southbound on Highway 11 when he ran off the left side of the road, lost control and overturned.

The victim was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

He was taken to Kona Community Hospital and pronounced dead at 6:19 a.m.

It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but speed was a factor in this crash.

The name of the victim is being withheld pending positive identification.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a coroner’s inquest case and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask that anyone with information about this traffic crash call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229.

This is the 22nd traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 15 at this time last year.