A 66-year-old Hilo man died Sunday following a two-motorcycle crash in Kailua-Kona.
The man, identified by the Hawaii Police Department as Darryl Arruda, was operating a maroon 1994 Harley Davidson motorcycle and headed northbound on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in a group with seven other motorcyclists at the time of the 3 p.m. crash, police said.
As the group approached the highway’s intersection with Kealakehe Parkway, the lead motorcyclist, a 52-year-old Hilo man, braked suddenly when the traffic light changed from green to yellow. Arruda was unable to stop in time and rear-ended the lead motorcycle, according to police.
Arruda suffered a head injury from the collision and was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m Sunday. An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The other rider was not injured.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Hawaii County Police Department has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who witnessed the crash to call Officer Kimo Keliipaakaua or Acting Sergeant Justin Hooser at 326-4646, ext. 229. Anonymous calls can be made to Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the sixth traffic fatality this year compared with three at this time last year.