A 31-year-old motorcycle rider died Wednesday from injuries he sustained in a crash with a vehicle on Route 190, just north of the 14-mile marker in South Kohala.
A 31-year-old motorcycle rider died Wednesday from injuries he sustained in a crash with a vehicle on Route 190, just north of the 14-mile marker in South Kohala.
Responding to a 11:26 a.m call, South Kohala patrol officers determined that Brocky A. Rapozo of Honokaa was riding his 2006 Suzuki motorcycle northbound on the Mamalahoa Highway when he attempted to overtake a vehicle that was also traveling north.
Rapozo’s motorcycle struck the left rear corner of a 2011 Chevrolet four-door sedan, lost control and struck a guardrail. He was not wearing a helmet.
The occupants of the Chevrolet, a family of four from California, were not injured.
Rapozo was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:13 p.m.
It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but police believe speed was a factor in this crash.
Traffic Enforcement Unit officers have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and have ordered an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
Police ask anyone with information about this crash to call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229.
This is the eighth official traffic fatality on the Big Island this year compared with six at this time last year, police said.