Woman involved in vehicle accident claims she blacked out

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 24, 2025, Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from the Fagatogo Central Police Station (TPS) regarding a three-vehicle accident in Malaeimi.

The suspect was later charged with Count 1: Reckless Driving With Injuries, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both.

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on Apr. 24th, at about 8:15 a.m., FPS contacted the TPS reporting a three-vehicle accident with injured people, in Malaeimi.

Police officers responded to the call along with EMS personnel.

Upon arrival of police, an older lady (driver #3) was observed with blood on her left thigh down to her knee area. Shortly after, two EMS units arrived at the scene and treated driver #3.

Police officers also observed Tualapalapa Fonoti (later identified as the suspect) with her son who had scratches on his forehead and minor cuts on his lower lip. EMS treated the suspect’s son while they interviewed the suspect regarding the accident.

According to the suspect, she didn’t know what happened. She claimed she blacked out and later realized that her car had got into an accident with other vehicles. The responding officer asked the suspect where the exact area was that she last remembered being before she fell asleep and she replied that it was before the Bookworm building while heading east.

Fonoti was not observed with any injuries at the time but authorities requested the EMS to check her over.

The driver of the second vehicle (driver #2) was asked if he had any injuries and he replied no. According to driver #2, the suspect’s vehicle approached at a high rate of speed near Ma’s store. He further stated that it was then that he realized that the suspect’s vehicle was slowly veering to his side, and he honked his horn and guided his vehicle off the road trying to avoid a collision with the suspect's vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. However, the suspect’s vehicle struck the rear side of his vehicle causing his vehicle to shift into the bushes. The suspect’s vehicle subsequently hit head on with the vehicle behind his truck, which the investigation later revealed belonged to driver #3.

After the collision both the suspect and driver #3’s vehicle crashed into the bushes.

Authorities were not able to speak with driver #3 at the scene due to her treatment with the EMS crew.

The suspect was issued a traffic citation citing Reckless Driving.

On Apr. 26th, police officers were able to follow up and obtained a statement from driver #3. According to driver #3, she was shocked about what happened. She just realized a car coming in so fast and then crossed lanes and hit her head on with her vehicle, which pushed her vehicle into the bushes.

She stated that she had scratches from her upper left thigh down to her left knee. Driver #3 was also observed with bruises in her chest area showing the line of the chest restraint of the seatbelt. In addition, she was observed with bruises on her left arm. Authorities attempted to take photos of her injuries but efforts to remove bandages were too painful for the victim.