Dr. Judy Fitzgerald, a longtime leader in Hilo’s health care community, died Wednesday in a head-on crash on Daniel K. Inouye Highway, leaving colleagues and residents mourning the loss of a dedicated mentor and patient advocate.
Gov. Josh Green, who previously served on Hawai‘i Island as a family and emergency room doctor for more than 20 years, told Aloha State Daily that Fitzgerald’s death underscores the broader toll of traffic fatalities across the state.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of Dr. Judith ‘Judy’ Fitzgerald, a beloved emergency physician who dedicated her life to caring for the people of Hawaiʻi," Green said. "Her death in a Christmas Eve traffic crash is a devastating reminder that we have now reached 128 traffic fatalities statewide this year — 128 lives lost, 128 families forever changed.
"We all have a responsibility to do better on our roads by slowing down, driving sober, staying focused and looking out for one another," he said. "That’s how we honor Dr. Fitzgerald’s legacy and protect the lives of those we love.”
Throughout her career as a physician, Fitzgerald held numerous leadership roles and was a steadfast supporter of medical services development.
Hilo Benioff Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kathleen Katt reflected on Fitzgerald’s decades of service in a statement: “Throughout her career, Dr. Fitzgerald generously volunteered for numerous leadership roles and was a steadfast advocate for the remarkable progress and growth our health care community has achieved. Her commitment to excellence, education and patient care left a lasting legacy that will continue to influence our work and our mission.”
HBMC CEO Dan Brinkman released a statement, saying, "One of our HBMC family has passed. We are all sad. Our sincere condolences to her family and friends. She will be missed."
The crash occurred near the 13-mile marker on Daniel K. Inouye Highway when a 2020 Toyota Tacoma traveling eastbound toward Hilo crossed the center line and struck Fitzgerald’s westbound 2025 Mazda convertible. She was found unresponsive at the scene and transported to Hilo Benioff Medical Center, where she worked, and was later pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The Toyota’s driver, 34-year-old Caitlin Smith of Hilo, sustained minor injuries and was treated and released at Hilo Benioff Medical Center. Smith was initially arrested on suspicion of first-degree negligent homicide, reckless driving and operating a vehicle under the influence, but was released Thursday evening without charges pending further investigation.
Hawaiʻi Police Department Public Information Officer Denise Laitinen told ASD that the decision to release Smith was made in consultation with the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, not by the police department.
Court records show Smith has a history of speeding offenses, including a 2020 conviction for driving 95 mph in a 55 mph zone, which resulted in a fine, community service and a 30-day license suspension.
Police say speed, alcohol and/or drugs, and reckless driving are all believed to be contributing factors in the crash. The Area I Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing its investigation. The crash marks the 21st traffic fatality on Hawai‘i Island in 2025, compared with 28 at the same point last year.
“Tell your friends to drive safe, tell your family members,” Hawaiʻi County Mayor Kimo Alameda said in a social media post. “We lost another major community member in Dr. Judith Fitzgerald by another suspected impaired or reckless driver.”
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