Hawai‘i Island police are actively investigating another deadly incident involving a motorcyclist, marking the second such tragedy to shake Puna in as many days. A collision on Monday afternoon, claimed the life of a man believed to be in his 30s or 40s, as confirmed in a Nixle alert issued by the Hawaii Police Department.
According to the Hawaii Police Department, the accident occurred on Keaau-Pahoa Road, near the Pāhoa Police Station, when the victim was attempting to overtake several vehicles along the mauka shoulder of the highway. In an unfortunate turn of events, the motorcyclist abruptly crashed into a 2020 Peterbilt dump truck as it made a right turn into a driveway. Immediately dispatched to the 3:38 p.m. report, responders had to sadly confirm the motorcyclist's unresponsiveness at the accident site.
Despite swift transportation to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center, the victim was pronounced deceased later that evening at 7:23 p.m. As standard procedure dictates, an autopsy is slated to help determine the exact cause of the fatal incident. The identity of the man is being withheld until family is notified, the Hawaii Police Department mentioned. The driver of the dump truck, a 67-year-old Hilo resident, remained unharmed during the incident.
Initial assessments by the police reveal that the motorcyclist was likely not wearing a helmet at the moment of impact. Additionally, they believe that speed and potentially alcohol or drugs may have been factors to quicken into the deadly sequence. This grim event arrives on the heels of a similar occurrence involving a motorcycle and a sedan on February 2, taking the life of a 32-year-old Puna man, as reported by the Hawaii Police Department.
The East Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit has taken the reins of the ongoing investigation into this latest collision. The traffic fatality count has already risen to five this year, marginally outpacing the four from the same period last year, as per the Hawaii Police Department. As the inquiry continues, Officer Jerome Duarte welcomes any additional information about this case, which witnesses can provide by contacting him at (808) 961-2339, or emailing [email protected]. Anonymous tips are also accepted through Crime Stoppers, available at (808) 961-8300.
