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(Update) Woman Critically Injured in Puna Traffic Collision Dies

January 29, 2025 |
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Media Releases

Hawai‘i Island police report that the 21-year-old female pedestrian involved in the traffic collision on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, on Highway 11 in the area of the 10 mile-marker, in Kurtistown, has passed away. She has been identified as Jahnya Serquina-Octubre, of Mountain View.  

Responding to a traffic collision at 7:56 p.m., police determined that a 2016 Honda CRV multi-purpose vehicle operated by a 74-year-old Mountain View man was traveling in a north ((Hilo bound) direction on Highway 11 when it struck Serquina-Octubre. Multiple witnesses confirmed she was observed on the roadway prior to her being struck.

Serquina-Octubre was unresponsive at the scene and transported to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center in critical condition. On January 24, 2025, at 12:16 p.m., she was pronounced deceased after succumbing to her injuries but was kept on life support until yesterday, January 28, 2025, at 12:30 pm. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The operator of the Honda CRV multi-purpose vehicle was not injured as a result of the collision.

At this time, police do not believe impairment or speed to be factors in this investigation and have reclassified this investigation as a negligent homicide.

The East Hawai‘i Traffic Enforcement Unit responded to the scene and are continuing the investigation. Multiple witnesses have come forward and assisted in providing information relative to this investigation.

If anyone has information regarding this collision, they may contact Officer Johnathan Rapoza at (808) 961-2339 or via email at Johnathan.Rapoza@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

This is the 3rd traffic fatality of 2025 compared to 3 this same time last year.

Department:
Hawaiʻi Police Department
Division:
Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit
Officer:
Sergeant Keith Nacis
Phone:
(808) 961-2339
Report Number:
25-006987

Unsolved Homicides

Hawaiʻi Police Department believes every victim deserves justice, and that the deceased victim’s family, friends, and community deserve closure.

Please take a moment to review the Unsolved Homicides summaries and if you have any information pertaining to any of these cases, please submit a tip, email us or call our Unsolved Homicides Division at (808) 961-2380 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. Thank you for your help!

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