There were two fatal traffic crashes Saturday on the Big Island, one in East Hawaii and the other in West Hawaii. ADVERTISING There were two fatal traffic crashes Saturday on the Big Island, one in East Hawaii and the other
There were two fatal traffic crashes Saturday on the Big Island, one in East Hawaii and the other in West Hawaii.
The first was a two-car head-on collision at about 1 p.m. on Highway 11 at the Namakanipaio campground intersection in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Saturday afternoon.
The second was a crash involving a car and a bicyclist, which occurred at about 1:45 p.m. at the corner of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway in Kailua-Kona, according to police.
In the Kona crash, the bicyclist, a 42-year-old Kailua-Kona man, was killed. Police have not yet released his identity.
The car’s driver, identified in police logs as 60-year-old Jeffrey Pelham of Kawaihae, was uninjured. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI and first-degree negligent homicide, and was later released from police custody pending further investigation.
In the HVNP crash, rangers reported that a white Hyundai Elantra and a blue Toyota Scion were involved. The Hyundai’s driver, a 65-year-old New Jersey man, died at the scene despite CPR from rangers, bystanders and county Fire Department medics. The other driver, a 33-year-old local man, was taken to Hilo Medical Center by ambulance. No information was given on his condition. Both men were the only occupants of their cars.
The collision caused a complete closure of Highway 11 between mile markers 32 and 34 for several hours Saturday afternoon while officials investigated the scene. Both lanes of the highway were open by 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
Local police are helping NPS investigate.
The identification of the victims is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Witnesses to the Volcano accident are asked to call HVNP dispatch at 985-6170, and may remain anonymous.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com,
