A deadly May on Big Island roads continued Monday as a man was killed during morning traffic after losing control of his pickup truck in Keaau.
Police are withholding his name pending positive identification and notification of his family.
The fatality is the sixth in a span of eight days, starting May 14, Mother’s Day, with two occurring in Puna and four in Kona.
Officers responding to an 8:06 a.m. call on Monday determined the driver was Hilo-bound in a 1998 Toyota truck, merging from the Keaau bypass (Highway 130) onto Highway 11 when he lost control of the truck, ran up an embankment and overturned.
According to the Fire Department, the man was found unresponsive with a massive head injury after the pickup truck rolled onto the driver’s side. He showed no signs of life after being removed from the vehicle.
The victim was taken to the Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 11:02 a.m.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
Witnesses are asked to call Officer Keith Nacis at 961-8119 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
This is the 16th official traffic fatality of the year, compared to 10 at this time last year.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.