Maui Records First Traffic Fatality in New Year

Maui Police are investigating the cause of a fatal collision Tuesday night that killed a Kihei woman.

The accident was reported at 9:09 p.m. on the Piilani Highway just north of the Kulanihakoi intersection.

Police say an 2005 Nissan SUV operated by a 23 year old Kihei man was traveling north on the highway when it collided with a woman standing in the travel lanes.

The woman was later identified as 42-year-old Shannon L. Vannatta of Kihei.  The Nissan operator was not injured, but Vannatta died after being transported to the Maui Memorial Medical Center.  Authorities say her vehicle was found parked and unattended on the shoulder of the highway.

The incident was the first traffic death in Maui County this year compared to 2 at the same time last year.

The Piilani Highway was closed to through traffic between Kulanihakoi Street and Kaonoulu Road during the investigation.  The road was completely reopened at 1:51 a.m. Wednesday morning.

(Posted by Wendy Osher)