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Police are investigating a two-vehicle traffic collision that killed a husband and wife from Waimea early this morning on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in North Kona.

Officers responding to a reported collision at 5:41 a.m. determined that a Kona-bound silver 2021 Kia Forte sedan was attempting to pass multiple vehicles, including a tractor-trailer with a full tank of fuel, when it collided head-on near the 79.5-mile marker with a Kohala-bound brown 2004 Nissan Frontier pickup truck.

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The 51-year-old man driving the Kia, Reginald Kaleilehua Tolentino Jr., and his 55-year-old wife and passenger, Colette Marie Kaleialoha Tolentino, were taken to Kona Community Hospital, where both were pronounced dead at 10:48 a.m.

The 55-year-old man driving the Nissan pickup sustained life-threatening injuries in the collision and was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital for initial treatment. He later was flown to The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu for further care.

The West Hawaii Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a major traffic collision investigation and is asking potential witnesses to contact Officer Adam Roberg at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229, or adam.roberg@hawaiicounty.gov. Those who prefer to remain anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.

These deaths are the sixth and seventh official traffic fatalities this year, compared to four at the same time last year.