The Hawaii County Police Department identified today the 21-year-old woman who died in a 2-vehicle crash in Honomu Saturday as Sarah Akiona of Kamuela.

Akiona was the front-seat passenger in a sport utility vehicle that crossed the center line of Highway 19 before colliding with a propane tanker truck, police said. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

The driver of the SUV, a 23-year-old Kamuela man, and another passenger, a 3-year-old boy, were treated for their injuries at the scene. Paramedics transported the driver of the tanker truck, a 54-year-old Hilo man, to the hospital in stable condition.

A fire from a broken pipe on the tanker truck burned for two days as firefighters shot more than a million gallons of water on the truck to prevent a catastrophic explosion. The roadway was closed until 10:30 a.m. Monday.

Police do not believe that speed or alcohol were factors in this crash.

Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Casey Cabral at 961-2329. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

This crash was the 26th traffic fatality this year compared with 17 at this time last year.