A 42-year-old Kihei woman became Maui’s first traffic fatality of the year Tuesday night when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle while standing in a lane on Piilani Highway in Kihei.

Maui police said Shannon L. Vannatta was hit shortly after 9 p.m. She was pronounced dead at Maui Memorial Medical Center.
The driver of the SUV, a 23-year-old Kihei man, was not injured.
Police said Vannatta’s car was found parked and unattended on the shoulder of the highway.
Piilani Highway between Kulanihakoi Street and Kaonoulu Road was closed to traffic while police investigated.
Police said two people had died in traffic incidents on Maui at this time last year.