A 57-year-old Holualoa man died following a two-vehicle collision Saturday on Mamalahoa Highway just south of its intersection with Hualalai Road in North Kona.
The victim was identified Sunday by the Hawaii Police Department as Tony D. Atkinson.
Responding to a 5:57 p.m. call, police determined that a red 2003 Mini Copper heading south had crossed the double solid yellow lines and struck a blue 2003 Toyota Tundra pickup head-on near mile marker 3. The Toyota pickup was being operated by a 41-year-old Holualoa man, according to the department.
The 57-year-old man was transported to Kona Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:50 p.m.
The driver of the Toyota pickup, along with a 28-year-old male passenger from the Mini Cooper were taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment. The driver of the Toyota pickup was later transported to The Queen’s Medical Center on Oahu for further treatment.
An autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
The Area II Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a Coroner’s Inquest investigation and is asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident to contact Officer Jason Foxworthy at (808) 326-4646, ext. 229.
This is the eighth traffic fatality this year compared to five at this time last year.