A 33-year-old North Kohala woman died early today hours after being struck by a car as she walked on Akoni Pule Highway, near the 24-mile marker.

The driver was arrested after fleeing, then returning to the scene, Big Island police said in a news release.

Police identified the pedestrian as Stanette Medeiros of Kapa'au.

Responding to a 9:36 p.m. call yesterday, North Kohala patrol officers determined that a 20-year-old man was driving east on Akoni Pule Highway in a 2008 Honda four-door sedan when he struck the victim in the middle of the highway.

The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 2:09 a.m. today.

After the driver returned to the scene, he was arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, accident involving injury or death and prohibitions involving minors, police said.

Police identified the driver as a Kapa'au man. He was not injured in the crash.

The driver was released pending further investigation.

Police believe that speed and alcohol were factors in this crash.

Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Marvin Troutman at 326-4646, ext. 229.

This is the 25th traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with 35 at this time last year.