Police identify woman in fatal Puna car crash
Saturday, June 18th 2016, 1:56 am EDT
By HNN Staff
Crystal Mercado-Lopez (Image: Flores, Lopez Family)
(Image: Hawaii News Now)
(Image: Hawaii News Now) PUNA, BIG ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) - Big Island police records have identified the woman who died in Friday afternoon’s traffic accident on Highway 11 as Crystal Mercado-Lopez.
Highway 11 at the 21 mile marker in the Volcano area was closed yesterday in both directions for almost five hours after the fatal crash occurred just after 5 p.m.
An accident report by fire officials say Mercado-Lopez was driving a small sedan and was extricated out of the vehicle by an off duty officer.
Family members say Mercado-Lopez's daughter, an infant, was in a car seat at the time of the incident and was transported to a hospital as a precaution. Mercado-Lopez also has a son.
Kevin McGuire of Mountain View has been identified as the driver of the pick-up truck that crashed into Mercado-Lopez's sedan. Fire officials say he was uninjured.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. It is unknown at this time is speed, drugs or alcohol were contributing factors.