HILO — The daughter of an elderly couple who were killed in a head-on traffic collision late last year in North Kohala is suing the driver of the other vehicle.
The wrongful death civil suit was filed Tuesday in Hilo Circuit Court by Honolulu attorney Woody Soldner on behalf of Lauraann Rodrigues. Rodrigues is the daughter of Albert and Dorothy Kita, both of whom died as a result of a Nov. 4 collision near the 15-mile marker on Kohala Mountain Road (Highway 250). The suit seeks unspecified general, special and punitive damages, plus attorneys’ fees and costs, plus interest from the defendant, Hanna Bree.
Rodrigues is suing on her own behalf and as representative of her parents’ estates.
Police responding to an 8:13 a.m. call determined Bree, then 29 and of Hawi, was driving a 2007 Honda SUV north on Kohala Mountain Road, failed to negotiate a turn, crossed the centerline of the highway and collided head-on with a southbound 2008 Scion Xb.
The driver of the Scion, Albert Kita, 77, and his 83-year-old wife and front-seat passenger, Dorothy Kita, were taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea. Albert Kita was pronounced dead at 9:32 a.m., and Dorothy Kita was pronounced dead at 12:15 p.m.
Bree also was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where she was treated for injuries sustained in the collision.
Police think speed and inattention were factors in the crash.
The suit claims Albert and Dorothy Kita suffered “extreme conscious pain and suffering” prior to their deaths and that Rodrigues continues to suffer “great worry and distress” as a result of Bree’s “failure to accept full responsibility” for Rodrigues’ losses.
Bree, to date, has not been charged with any criminal offense connected to the fatal collision. Court records indicate Bree’s only prior infraction is a citation for driving 60 mph in a 45 mph zone on Nov. 9, 2015. Bree didn’t contest the ticket, and paid $142 in fines and fees on Nov. 27, 2015.
Soldner didn’t return a phone call by press time Wednesday.
The Tribune-Herald was unable to contact Bree.
