A 77-year-old 'Ewa Beach woman died yesterday afternoon of injuries suffered when her vehicle struck a utility pole about 8:55 a.m. near the intersection of Kilaha Street and North Road in 'Ewa Beach, emergency medical officials reported.

The medical examiner's office identified her as Julia Gomes.

Police Traffic Division officers said Gomes was traveling north on Kilaha in a 1989 four-door gray Toyota. The accident occurred as she was making a left turn onto North Road and her car struck a road sign and utility pole.

Gomes was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, where she died at 1:31 p.m., officials said.

She was wearing a seat belt, but her vehicle was not equipped with air bags, police said. The accident happened in clear daylight conditions. Police had not immediately determined if speed or alcohol was involved in the accident.

No one else was involved in the accident, police said.

It was the second traffic fatality of the year compared with none at this time a year ago, police said.

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