Man killed in head-on collision in Honaunau
An 18-year-old Honaunau man has been arrested on suspicious of negligent homicide after a head-on crash Sunday afternoon in Honaunau left a 49-year-old Kailua-Kona man dead.
At 2:13 p.m., police responded to a traffic collision involving two vehicles below the intersection of Ke Ala O Keawe Road and Honaunau Road, near the 1.5-mile marker. Investigators determined that a brown 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe sport-utility vehicle driven by Keawemauhili Iolanikealoha Navas-Loa of Honaunau, was traveling east (mauka) when it crossed double-solid yellow lines and struck a gray 2003 Honda Accord sedan head-on.
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The driver of the Honda Accord, Jerome “Tabu” Chadallen Kahoalii Heath of Kailua-Kona, was transported to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m.
Two children in the Honda Accord, Heath’s 10-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter, were treated and released at Kona Community Hospital.
Navas-Loa was arrested on suspicion second-degree negligent homicide and was later released without being charged pending further investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to contact Officer Ansel Robinson at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or ansel.robinson@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
This is the 6th traffic fatality this year compared to 4 at this time last year.
