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A woman died and her husband was injured when the 2012 Harley Davidson motorcycle they were on swerved to avoid a car and traveled 150 feet down a gulch on Akoni Pule Highway in Hawi Monday.
Hawaii County police said the driver of the motorcycle was heading northwest on the highway and swerved to avoid a car that crossed the centerline into their lane near the 28 mile marker.
Police closed Akoni Pule Highway at about noon until about 2:40 p.m. while they investigated the crash.
Police identified the victim as Jennie Wahlstrom, 32, of North Kaysville, Utah. Wahlstrom was a passenger on the motorcycle and died at the scene. Paramedics took her 35-year-old husband to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Police did not release his condition.
Neither victim was wearing a helmet.
Police are also asking for the public’s help in finding the driver of the grey sedan involved in the incident and for additional witnesses.
Police initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 31st traffic fatality this year compared with 16 at this time last year.
