Two Big Island men died Thursday of injuries sustained in separate traffic collisions.
Two Big Island men died Thursday of injuries sustained in separate traffic collisions.
In one incident, a 39-year-old Kurtistown man was involved a one-vehicle crash on Highway 11 midway between the 48- and 49-mile markers.
Ka‘u patrol officers responding to a 12:43 a.m. call determined that the man was driving a 1987 Ford sedan southbound on Highway 11 when he ran off the left side of the road, lost control and overturned.
The victim wasn’t wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, police said.
According to a written Fire Department statement, the man had no signs of life at the scene. He was pronounced dead at 6:19 a.m. at Kona Community Hospital.
It is unknown at this time if alcohol or drugs were involved but police believe speed was a factor in this crash.
In the other incident, a 21-year-old Kealakekua man died of injuries he sustained in a motor vehicle/moped crash at the intersection of Kealakehe Parkway and Ane Keahokalole Highway on Wednesday.
Kona patrol officers responding to a 7:58 p.m. call determined that the man was driving a 1995 Honda station wagon eastbound on Kealakehe Parkway when he rear-ended a moped at the intersection of Ane Keahokalole Highway. He swerved to the right and struck a fire hydrant, light pole and sign, and then overturned.
The victim wasn’t wearing a seat belt.
The victim and the moped rider were both taken to Kona Community Hospital. The moped operator was treated for his injuries and released. The station wagon’s driver was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, where he died Thursday at at 4:10 a.m.
Alcohol was a factor in this crash, police said. At this time, it is unknown if speed was a factor.
The names of both victims are being withheld pending positive identification, and autopsies have been ordered.
Anyone with information on either this crash is asked to call Officer Thomas Koyanagi at 326-4646, extension 229.
The deaths are the 22nd and 23rd official traffic fatalities on the Big Island this year compared to 15 at this time last year.