A 55-year-old Big Island woman from Oceanview was killed yesterday during a head on collision in Kau.

The victim was identified as Marena L. Bohol, by Big Island police.

Big Island police said Bohol was killed when two cars collided around 6:30 p.m. on Kamaoa Road .7 miles east of South Point Road in the area of Discovery Harbour.

Kau patrol officers said that a 22-year-old woman from Naalehu was driving a 2003 Ford pickup truck and traveling east on Kamaoa Road when she crossed the centerline and collided with Bohol, who was driving a 1994 Toyota two-door sedan and traveling west.

She and her passenger, a 55-year-old woman, also from Naalehu, were taken to Kona Community Hospital. It is unknown what their conditions are at this time.

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

Traffic investigators have started a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

This is the 18th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 11 at this time last year.