Traffic fatality on Waikoloa Road
A 27-year-old Waikoloa man died in a single vehicle collision Tuesday near the 5-mile marker on Waikoloa Road (Highway 191), which is located in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
The 27-year-old male driver has been identified as Samiu Kealoha Kama Olevao.
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Officers responding to a 1:34 a.m. call found that a mauka-bound silver 1998 Lexus ES300 sedan failed to negotiate a right turn, causing it to cross the double solid yellow lines. After crossing the center line, the vehicle went off the makai shoulder of the road, rolled several times and landed on a rock embankment. The driver was ejected from the vehicle as it rolled. He was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where was pronounced dead at 9:09 a.m.
A 4-year-old girl and 3-year-old girl who were passengers in the Lexus were treated and released at Queen’s North Hawaii Community Hospital.
Police believe that speed and impairment are factors in the crash. Olevao was not wearing his seat belt.
Police have initiated a coroner’s inquest investigation and are asking for anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Officer Dayson Taniguchi at 326-4646 ext. 229 or dayson.taniguchi@hawaiicounty.gov.
Olevao’s death is the 19th traffic fatality this year compared to 9 at this time last year.
