A man killed in a two-car accident in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Saturday afternoon has been identified as 65-year-old Paul Hernandez of Sparta, N.J.
A man killed in a two-car accident in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Saturday afternoon has been identified as 65-year-old Paul Hernandez of Sparta, N.J.
Hernandez was traveling northbound on Highway 11 in a white Hyundai Elantra sedan. According to a witness, the Hyundai left its lane of travel as if doing a U-turn, and was struck by a blue Toyota Scion headed south, driven by a 33-year-old local man. Hernandez was killed instantly.
The Toyota’s driver was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center.
Since Hernandez’s death occurred within park boundaries, Hawaii Police Department do not count it toward the official yearly traffic fatality total for the Big Island.
National Park Service rangers are seeking witnesses to the crash, which happened on Highway 11 near the intersection of Namakanipaio Campground around 1 p.m.
Anyone with information regarding this accident is asked to call Park Dispatch at 985-6170.