The Traffic Enforcement Unit said Monday it has initiated a negligent homicide investigation and is asking for anyone who witnessed Sunday’s fatal crash to call Officer Christopher Kapua-Allison at 326-4646, ext. 229.
A 36-year-old Oahu man died following a single vehicle collision that occurred at the intersection of the Daniel Inouye Highway and Mamalahoa Highway, also known as Route 190 or upper road, on Sunday in Puuanahulu, North Kona. The name of the male party is being withheld pending notification of his family.
Responding to a 7:28 a.m. call, police determined that a military tractor trailer transport vehicle operated by a 20-year-old Oahu man had been towing heavy machinery on a trailer and had been traveling westbound on Daniel Inouye Highway (Route 200). The operator lost control of the vehicle and then attempted to negotiate a left turn onto Route 190 when the tractor trailer then struck the southbound lane guardrail and overturned into a culvert.
The front seat passenger within the tractor trailer was taken to the Kona Community Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:35 p.m. The operator was taken to the North Hawaii Community Hospital for treatment of his injuries.
An autopsy has been order to determine the exact cause of death.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo.
The highway reopened late Sunday night. It marked the 11th traffic related fatality this year compared with 10 at this time last year.