Police identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a semi-truck Friday in Paauilo as John De Luz, 17, of Paauilo. Police identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a semi-truck Friday in Paauilo as John De
Police identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed by a semi-truck Friday in Paauilo as John De Luz, 17, of Paauilo.
Hamakua police responding to a 5:32 p.m. call Friday said that De Luz had stepped off a Hele-On bus that was stopped on the mauka side of the road, ran in front of the bus and onto the highway.
He was then struck by a semi tractor-trailer that was heading eastbound on Mamalahoa Highway. The driver of the semi, a 22-year-old Waimea man, was not injured.
De Luz was flown to North Hawaii Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:37 p.m.
Police do not know whether alcohol or speed was a factor in the crash. A standard negligent homicide investigation has been opened and an autopsy has been ordered.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to call Officer Clarence Davies at 961-8118. This is the 27th traffic fatality of the year on the Big Island, compared to 15 at the same time last year.
