California Woman Dies in Hilo Landfill Accident

Posted by Wendy Osher

A California woman died of injuries she sustained when the pickup truck she was in plunged 50 feet off the Rubbish Dump Road in Hilo over the weekend.

The woman has since been identified as Christina L. Delgado, 22, of Santa Cruz, California.

The incident was reported at 1:35 p.m. on Sunday.  According to island police, the vehicle the woman was in was headed south on the road, when it lost control, ran off the left side of the road, and dropped down into an old rock quarry.  The truck landed on its roof, pinning the female passenger inside.

The driver of the 1992 blue Toyota SR-5 truck was able to free himself and go for help.  Authorities say the man is the victim’s 26-year-old brother, Marco A. Delgado.  He was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, negligent injury and having no insurance.  He was confined at Hilo Medical Center due to his injuries and was released pending further investigation.

Rescue personnel from the Fire Department extricated the woman and transported her to the Hilo Medical Center.  She was later flown to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu, where she died on Monday night.

Hilo police have reclassified the negligent injury case to a negligent homicide investigation. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.

Police ask that any witnesses who saw the vehicle at the Hilo Drag Strip prior to the crash to call police.

*** Supporting information courtesy Big Island Police.