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 northbound 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-side headlight damage.
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Crimestoppers at 242-6966.
The death marks Maui County's 17th traffic fatality this year, compared with nine at the same time last year.
