Hawaii island police are investigating a mysterious Saturday evening motor vehicle crash in Pahoa that left one woman dead and at least one other person injured.

Firefighters responding to a 10:21 p.m. emergency call on Nanawale Boulevard found a mid-sized car that had apparently crashed into trees and a utility pole before coming to rest in bushes about 5 feet below the grade of the road.

A male passenger found lying on the ground near the vehicle told emergency responders that the driver had fled the scene and that he and the driver were the only occupants of the vehicle.

However, witnesses told police that other people may have been in the vehicle and a search of the area using thermal imaging equipment revealed a body of a woman lying in very thick brush about 10 feet from the vehicle.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.