A 57-year-old Holualoa man died following a two-vehicle collision on Saturday on Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 180), south of the 3-mile marker. The man has been identified as Tony D. Atkinson.
Responding to a 5:57 p.m. call, police determined that a red 2003 Mini Cooper heading south had crossed the double solid yellow lines and struck a blue 2003 Toyota Tundra pickup head-on, according to reports. The Toyota pickup was driven by a 41-year-old Holualoa man.
Atkinson was transported to the Kona Community Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m.
The driver of the Toyota pickup, along with a 28-year-old male passenger from the Mini Cooper were taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. The driver of the Toyota pickup was later transported to the Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a Coroner’s Inquest investigation and is asking for anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Jason Foxworthy at 326-4646 ext. 229.
This is the eighth traffic fatality this year compared to 5 at this time last year.