Kona man dies in head-on traffic crash near Puuanahulu
Police say a 21-year-old Kailua-Kona man died early this morning in a two-vehicle head-on crash near Puuanahulu.
Officers responding to a 4:47 a.m. call determined that a southbound green 2015 Subaru Forester driven by a 40-year-old Hilo woman crossed the double-solid yellow line. Police say she did so in an attempt to pull over onto the opposite-side mauka shoulder of Mamalahoa Highway (Route 190), just north of the 23-mile marker, because there was no shoulder on the makai side of the roadway.
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While crossing over the centerline, the Subaru collided head-on with a northbound silver 2000 Acura Integra sedan, driven by Alvin Godfrey Castro III. Castro was taken to Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:25 a.m.
The Subaru driver was transported to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. She remains hospitalized, police said.
Police have initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for potential witnesses to the crash to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
Castro’s death is the 20th official traffic fatality this year compared to 10 at this time last year.
