Police say a single-vehicle collision this morning in Hilo that left a 76-year-old man dead appears to be the result of a medical emergency.
Hilo patrol officers responded at about 8:54 a.m. to a reported collision at the intersection of Kapiolani and West Kawili streets.
Investigators determined that a 2012 Toyota Highlander was traveling east on West Kawili Street and turned left onto Kapiolani Street at the intersection. The vehicle continued into the right-hand shoulder of Kapiolani and proceeded through a chain-link fence, coming to rest within an active construction area.
There were no signs of braking and no other vehicles were involved.
The driver of the Toyota Highlander has been identified as Charles Kanoho of Hilo, who was unresponsive at the scene. Kanoho was taken by ambulance to Hilo Medical Center. He was pronounced dead at 9:39 a.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the cause of death and a coroner’s inquest has been opened.
Police are asking potential witnesses or others with information on the collision to call the police nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is 13th traffic fatality of 2023 compared to 25 traffic fatalities this time last year.