A mechanical failure may have contributed to a fatal crash Sunday night on Haleakala Highway when a 1941 Ford Woody station wagon crossed the grass median and flipped over, police said. MPD photo

A mechanical failure may have contributed to a fatal crash Sunday night on Haleakala Highway when a 1941 Ford Woody station wagon crossed the grass median and flipped over, police said.

The driver, identified as 76-year-old Linda Howlett of Kula, died at the scene of the crash, police said.

It occurred at 8:24 p.m. on the highway about 0.3 miles west of Keahua Road near Mile Marker 3.

Police said preliminary investigation showed the station wagon was traveling east in the Kula direction when the driver lost control of the vehicle, crossed the grass median and flipped over, landing in the Kahului-bound lanes of the highway.

A 76-year-old Kula man who was the front seat passenger was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center for treatment and evaluation of injuries that weren’t life threatening, police said.

Investigation showed both occupants were wearing lap seat belt restraints at the time of the crash, police said.

The traffic death was the 15th this year on Maui County roads, compared with six at the same time last year.