Two men who died in separate traffic collisions Sunday have been identified.
Two men who died in separate traffic collisions Sunday have been identified.
Police identified the man who died in a vehicle fire after a sedan rear-ended his pickup on Highway 130 in Puna near the Shower Drive and Pohaku Drive intersection as 31-year-old Travis Serquina of Keaau.
The 26-year-old Keaau man police thought to be responsible for the collision, Keempe Drequito, was still in police custody as of late Tuesday afternoon, according to Maj. Samuel Thomas.
Police say Drequito fled the scene on foot, but was located a short time later and arrested on suspicion of negligent homicide, reckless driving, leaving the scene of a fatal accident and DUI.
The 48-hour deadline police have to charge Drequito or release him pending further investigation was after the Tribune-Herald’s press time.
In addition, the U.S. Army identified a 36-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier killed Sunday morning when a tractor-trailer truck crashed through a guardrail at the intersection of Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) and Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 190) in West Hawaii as Sgt. Terrence Hinton.
Hinton, 36, a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., served as a motor transport operator. He enlisted in the Army in 2009 and was deployed twice to the Middle East, to Afghanistan in 2010 and Kuwait in 2014, for a total of 21 months.
“We offer our deepest condolences to Sgt. Hinton’s family and friends and will keep them in our thoughts and prayers,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Cavoli, commander of the 25th Infantry Division. “It is a tragedy and a sad day when we lose one of our soldiers.”
Pfc. Marcus Smith, the 20-year-old driver of the tractor-trailer, was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries and released.
The collision is under investigation, and the Army said in a written statement Tuesday that more information will be provided as it becomes available.
Anyone who witnessed the Puna crash is asked to call Officer Erhard Autrata at 961-8118, while witnesses to the Kona collision are asked to call Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, ext. 229.
Those who prefer anonymity can call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.