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A 16-year-old Hawaii island girl was fatally injured Wednesday night when the driver of a truck she was riding in fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle, which then hit a pole in Pahala.
Leiani Camba-Penera was hurt just before 9:30 p.m. on Hawaii Belt Road near the 41-mile marker and Kapapala Ranch.
Police said that the 18-year-old driver of a 1994 Toyota pickup truck from Naalehu was traveling south, seven-tenths of a mile south of the 41-mile marker, when he reportedly fell asleep, ran off the right shoulder and struck a utility pole.
Camba-Penera, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the truck. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she died at 4:10 a.m. Thursday. An autopsy has been ordered to determine cause of death.
The driver was taken to Hilo Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
Police said speed and drugs may have contributed to the traffic fatality, and have opened a negligent-homicide investigation.
Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 299.
The fatality was the first for Hawaii island this year compared with two at this time last year.