HONOLULU (KHON2) — A Hawai‘i Island family is grieving after a deadly head-on collision on Daniel K. Inouye Highway claimed the life of a mother and seriously injured five family members — including a three-week-old baby and a four-year-old boy.
Police say the crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, near the 25-mile marker when a 2022 Toyota pickup truck traveling eastbound toward Hilo crossed the center line and struck a 2014 Subaru traveling westbound toward Kona.
The driver of the pickup was identified as 43-year-old Kimo Medeiros of Kurtistown. Investigators say he was attempting to overtake several vehicles when the crash happened.
Inside the Subaru were six family members. 47-year-old Anina Masaichy of Kailua-Kona, who was sitting in the backseat, was unresponsive at the scene and later pronounced dead at 7:53 p.m. at Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
Her daughter, Joeanny Masaichy, spoke with KHON2 on Sunday outside Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children where her two young children — a three-week-old baby girl and a four-year-old boy — remain hospitalized. Her father and cousin are both recovering at The Queen’s Medical Center. Her sister, who was also in the Subaru, has been discharged from Hilo Benioff Medical Center.
“My son, he’s moving and sitting up. My daughter’s vitals are better than when she came in, but no movement yet,” Joeanny said with tears. “My dad just got out of surgery, and my cousin is still in ICU.”
After a day of shopping, she said the family had been driving in separate cars Thursday afternoon. Joeanny and her spouse were driving a car in front, while the rest of the family was in a car behind them.
“We didn’t see their car anymore, and something didn’t feel right,” she said. “When we turned around, all we saw was my mom on the ground — my kids, and some workers trying to help them. I’ll never forget that moment.”
“I don’t wish anything bad to happen to the man responsible for this. I know he has a family too, I just wish he wasn’t drinking or under the influence of drugs. If only he thought before he did anything, then maybe my mom, the grandma of my kids would still be here,” she added.
Police arrested Medeiros for:
- Suspicion of driving under the influence of an intoxicant
- First-degree negligent homicide
- Three counts of first-degree negligent injury
- Two counts of second-degree negligent injury
- Reckless driving
- Driving without a license
Court documents show Medeiros was cited for driving without a license three days before the deadly crash. He was first taken to Hilo Benioff Medical Center for treatment, then medevaced to Queen’s Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition.
Police say speed, alcohol, and/or drugs may have been contributing factors in the crash.
The investigation remains ongoing.
“My kids are still fighting,” Joeanny said. “We just need prayers — from all around the world,” Joeanny said. She hopes this is a lesson to other drivers that speeding is not worth it.
The family has started a GoFundMe to assist with costly medical bills for the ohana, as well as funeral costs.