WAILUKU -- Maui police are looking for a dark red sport utility vehicle that may have been involved in a fatal hit-and-run collision that killed a 31-year-old Waiehu woman between Thursday night and Friday morning, police said.
The body of Brandy Mendes was found lying along the north-bound shoulder of Kahekili Highway, near Kamaile Street, in Waiehu around 5:49 a.m. Friday, police said.
Mendes had been walking toward Waihee on the makai side of the roadway, when an unknown vehicle traveling in the same direction struck Mendes sometime between 7:40 p.m. Thursday and 5:49 a.m. Friday.
The unknown vehicle fled in the Waihee direction.
The suspect's vehicle is believed to be a model year 1997-2002 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Silverado/GMC Sierra-type vehicle, with factory dark red metallic paint.
The vehicle is believed to have front-end and passenger's-side headlight damage.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Crimestoppers at 242-6966.
The traffic death marks Maui County's 17th fatality this year, compared with nine at the same time last year.
