A 16-year-old Big Island girl was killed Wednesday night when the driver of a truck she was riding fell asleep and lost control of the vehicle.

Leiani Camba-Penera was killed 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 the driver 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 vehicle. She was taken to Hilo Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead 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 believe that speed and drugs may have contributed to this traffic fatality. They have initiated a negligent homicide investigation. 

Police ask anyone who witnessed the crash to call officer Kimo Keliipaakaua at 326-4646, ext. 299.

This is the first traffic fatality this year compared with two at this time last year.