Man dies in Puna traffic collision

A 62-year-old Washington State man died Saturday night, apparently from a traffic collision on Route 137 (Kalapana-Kapoho Road), 1/10 mile south of the 17-mile-marker.

Officers responding to an 8:38 p.m. call found a 2015 Hyundai 4-door-sedan in the middle of the roadway of Route 137 with the driver inside dead at the scene.

An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.

Police will wait for the results of an autopsy before counting this death as a traffic fatality and to see if the man suffered a medical condition prior to the crash.

The name of the man is being withheld pending positive identification and notification of the next of kin.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Clarence Acob at 935-3311.