Man, 20, killed in Puna dirt bike crash

Hawaii Island police are investigating an off-road incident in which a man died after falling from a Puna coastline cliff.

The Hawaii Police Department said Tuesday morning that officers responded at 2:42 p.m. Monday to a report of two men needing assistance after falling from a cliff in lower Puna. Upon arrival, officers found a group of friends who had been riding dirt bikes in an area known as “Sand Hill.”

One of the dirt bike riders, Duane Correa, a 20-year-old man, went over the cliff on his dirt bike and died after falling about 30 feet, according to police. Correa’s 18-year-old sibling attempted to assist but also fell.

Both victims had to be extricated by Hawaii Fire Department personnel using a helicopter. The fire department said Correa suffered a “severe head injury” while his sibling was awake, alert and oriented with “multisystem traumatic injuries.”

Correa was taken to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m.. An autopsy has been order to determine the exact cause of death.

His brother, whom West Hawaii Today is not identifying, was airlifted to the Hilo Medical Center for further treatment and is listed in satisfactory condition.

Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to call the department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311 or Officer Devin Ah Chong at (808) 965-2716 or via email at devin.ahchong@hawaiicounty.gov.