A 66-year-old Hilo man died Sunday afternoon following a two-motorcycle collision at the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway in Kailua-Kona. ADVERTISING A 66-year-old Hilo man died Sunday afternoon following a two-motorcycle collision at the intersection of Queen
A 66-year-old Hilo man died Sunday afternoon following a two-motorcycle collision at the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway in Kailua-Kona.
He has been identified as Darryl Arruda.
Officers responding to a 3 p.m. call determined Arruda was riding his maroon 1994 Harley Davidson north on Queen K. Highway in a group with seven other motorcycles. As the group approached the intersection with Kealakehe Parkway, the lead motorcyclist, a 52-year-old Hilo man on a red 1992 Harley Davidson, braked suddenly as the traffic light changed from green to yellow.
Arruda was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the lead motorcycle, police said. Both bikes overturned.
Arruda sustained a head injury and was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
A written police statement didn’t specify whether Arruda was wearing a helmet and police couldn’t answer that question early Monday afternoon.
The other rider, identified in a police log as Allison Yano, was uninjured.
Police have opened a negligent homicide investigation and are asking anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua or Acting Sergeant Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229. Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the 6th official traffic fatality this year compared to three at this time last year.
