Hilo witnessed a tragic event last Thursday evening as a two-vehicle collision claimed the life of a Maui man, with police identifying the victim as 26-year-old Michael Taione. According to the Hawaiʻi Police, Taione was driving a white 2017 Ford F150 southbound on Highway 19, when for reasons yet to be fully understood his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with a black 2022 Chevy Silverado.
Lifesaving efforts were made for Taione but to no avail—he was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency personnel, his death marked as the second traffic fatality in 2026 for the Big Island, a number mirroring last year's count at this time. The collision also resulted in injuries to a 46-year-old Laupāhoehoe woman who was driving the Chevy Silverado, she was taken to the Hilo Benioff Medical Center and released after treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation led by the East Hawaiʻi Traffic Enforcement Unit is looking into speed and alcohol as potential catalysts in the deadly incident. An autopsy was ordered to determine the exact cause of Taione's death. Police encourage anyone with information on the collision to reach out to Officer Joshua Rodby-Tomas in their search for clarity in the shadow of this loss.
Authorities initially withheld the identity of Taione, releasing it only after notifying his family and while the woman involved remains in recovery. KHON2 reported that the crash highlights the importance of driving safety and the dangers of impaired driving, according to Hoodline.
