Big Island police on Wednesday identified the person killed in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday morning on Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
The victim was identified as 65-year-old Charles K. Makanui Jr., of Kona, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Makanui was the driver of a 2007 Honda SUV that police say attempted a left-hand turn from the east- or Hilo-bound lanes to head on Kaumana Drive when his SUV was struck broadside by a semitrailer driven by a 58-year-old Hilo man. The crash was reported shortly before 10:15 a.m. Tuesday.
The 2001 Kenworth semitrailer was traveling west, or Kona bound, on Daniel K. Inouye Highway approaching the Kaumana Drive intersection when the collision occurred, according to police.
The department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit has initiated a negligent homicide investigation in the case and asks anyone with information to contact Officer Clifford Antonio at (808) 961-2339 or email to clifford.antonio@hawaiicounty.gov.