Big Island police said today that Rupert Tripp, Jr., a guitarist with the acoustic jazz trio Kohala, was driving one of the vehicles in the Saturday night head-on collision on Highway 19 that killed three people. At last report Tripp, of Keaau, was at The Queen's Medical Center in guarded condition.

Brandon Ng was driving a Chevrolet station wagon that crossed the center line on Highway 19 and collided with Tripp’s Mercury sport utility vehicle, police said.

Police have opened a negligent homicide investigation.

Aimee Ng, 8, was the only one in her Waimea family to survive the head-on car crash that police said may have been alcohol related. She underwent surgery at The Queen’s Medical Center for her injuries.

Suzanne Leong, her boyfriend Brandon Ng, and their 5-year-old son Aidon were killed in the crash, which occurred as the family returned home from a friend’s birthday party.