Two die in separate traffic collisions Sunday

Two people died Sunday as a result of traffic collisions, one in Kona and another in Hilo.

In the first collision, an 18-year old man identified by police as Maui Kamokukaulanaina Easton Marley Ellis-Noa died later losing control of his 2005 Ford F-150 pickup truck and hitting a tree off the right shoulder of Napoopoo Road in Captain Cook.

Police think speed was a factor in the crash, which occurred at about 9:15 a.m.

Ellis-Noa was pronounced dead at Kona Community Hospital at 1:30 p.m.

The second crash occurred at about 4:30 p.m. in Hilo.

According to police, the rider of a 2019 Honda motorcycle traveling Puna-bound on Kanoelehua Avenue rear-ended a 1997 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that was stopped in traffic.

The rider, who wasn’t wearing a helmet, was unresponsive at the scene. He taken to the Hilo Medical Center and pronounced dead at 6:14 p.m. His name was withheld by police, pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

The truck’s driver, a 32-year-old man, wasn’t injured.

The road was dry, and police have determined that speed and the motorcyclist not wearing a helmet are the two primary factors in the outcome of this collision. Further investigation will be conducted relative to any additional contributing factors.

There are now 30 official traffic fatalities for 2022, compared to 20 at the same time last year. Last year’s traffic fatality total, 26, has been exceeded with almost 2 1/2 months left in the year.

Witnesses are asked to contact the police at the department’s nonemergency number, (808) 930-7328, or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.